Riverside, CA - One Killed and Two Critically Injured in Wrong-Way Crash on the 91 Freeway

Riverside, California (September 6, 2026) - One person died and two others were critically injured in a wrong-way, multi-vehicle crash on the eastbound 91 Freeway near University Avenue, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

The collision was reported at about 9:30 a.m. on September 6. California Highway Patrol dispatch information indicated that one of the vehicles had been traveling west in the eastbound lanes before the crash.

Riverside firefighters received the call at 9:34 a.m. The first engine crew found several damaged vehicles and multiple patients, the department said. One vehicle was burning, and at least one occupant had to be removed from the wreckage through an extrication operation.

The Fire Department listed one fatality and two patients with critical injuries in its incident summary. Three patients were taken to a local trauma center. Officials did not release the names of those involved or say whether the person who died was pronounced dead at the scene or after transport.

Six fire units, eleven firefighters, five ambulances, and an ambulance supervisor responded. The department listed the incident as controlled at 10 a.m., about 26 minutes after receiving the call.

Authorities closed the eastbound freeway at the crash site while crews treated the injured, put out the vehicle fire, and cleared access for emergency vehicles. The lanes reopened the afternoon of September 6.

Investigators had not released a complete account of the sequence of impacts, how the vehicle entered the freeway in the wrong direction, or which vehicle carried the person who died. No agency had identified a driver, announced an arrest, or said whether alcohol, drugs, speed, or a medical emergency played a role. The CHP is continuing to investigate the wrong-way report.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Fatal Wrong-Way Crash in Riverside, California

A wrong-way collision on a divided freeway is one of the clearest fault patterns in California crash law. Even so, the families affected usually face weeks of silence while the CHP builds its report. Here is what that period looks like.

Can a family pursue a claim before the CHP finishes its investigation?

Yes. A civil wrongful death or injury claim runs separately from any criminal review. Families do not have to wait for the CHP report, an arrest, or charges to start protecting their rights. Early action matters because the wreckage, the burned vehicle, and on-ramp camera footage can be lost within weeks.

Who may be liable?

• The wrong-way driver, if the CHP confirms that vehicle entered the eastbound lanes against traffic
• That driver's insurer, and the victims' own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the driver's policy is too small
• A bar, restaurant, or host, in limited cases, if impairment is later confirmed and the source of the alcohol can be shown
• Caltrans, if investigators find that missing, obscured, or defective wrong-way signage or ramp design contributed to how the vehicle entered the freeway

What does a wrongful death claim cover in California?

Funeral and burial costs, the income the person would have provided, and the loss of their care, companionship, and guidance. Injured survivors have their own claims for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

What if the person who died was the wrong-way driver?

California follows pure comparative fault. Occupants of the struck vehicles can still recover from any at-fault party, and the fault of one driver does not reduce what their passengers can claim.

What are the deadlines?

Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP 377.60), and injury claims within two years of the crash (CCP 335.1). For this crash, that deadline is September 6, 2028. If any claim involves Caltrans or another public entity, a formal government claim must first be filed within six months under the Government Claims Act, which for this crash would be March 6, 2027. Missing that shorter deadline usually ends the claim against the agency permanently.

Contact Our Southern California Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing someone on an ordinary Sunday morning drive, with no warning and no explanation yet from investigators, leaves a family carrying grief and unanswered questions at the same time.

Our Southern California wrongful death lawyers have secured a $5 million wrongful death settlement and more than $200 million for clients. A wrong-way freeway case means reconstructing which vehicle entered against traffic, where, and why, and then holding every responsible party to account.

The burned vehicle, the event data recorders in every car involved, and the on-ramp camera footage near University Avenue are the evidence that answers those questions, and they do not stay available for long.

You pay nothing to have us review what happened, and we are paid only if we recover for your family.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
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Ask Us What Happened on the 91 at (866) 836-6588

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.