Five injured in crash on Murrieta Hot Springs Road

Five people were transported to a local hospital following a collision between two cars Saturday evening in Murrieta.

According to Murrieta Police Sgt. Darryl Underwood, police officers and firefighters responded to the crash at 6:50 p.m. on Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. east of Interstate 15.

Officers arrived on scene within a few minutes and discovered a gray Pontiac GTO had collided nearly head-on with a silver Honda Accord.

The vehicles came to rest in front of Papa Bob’s Mount Fresh Christmas Tree Lot along Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., blocking the westbound lanes.

According to Murrieta Fire Cpt. Dave Perez, five patients — three from the Honda and two from the Pontiac — were transported by ambulance to Inland Valley Hospital with injuries ranging from minor to moderate.

One woman was briefly trapped in the passenger side of the Pontiac, Perez said.

Firefighters used a hydraulic spreader tool, which is part of the jaws of life, to pry open the passenger side door and remove the woman from the vehicle.

A total of two fire engines, one overhead officer and three ambulances responded to the scene.

Investigators at the scene believed the Pontiac exited the northbound side of Interstate 15 and attempted to turn east onto Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Underwood said.

The Pontiac traveled across all eastbound lanes of Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. before colliding with the front end of the Honda, which was traveling westbound.

Drugs or alcohol were not believed to have contributed to the crash, but it had not yet been determined if the speed of the Pontiac played a role, Underwood said.

One westbound lane remained open as vehicles drove slowly around glass and debris in the roadway.

Firefighters and police officers remained at the scene for over an hour until the vehicles and debris were removed.

The roadway was fully reopened shortly after 8 p.m.

Joe Fanaselle is a photojournalist and regular contributor to SWRNN.