The Riverside County Coroner’s Office has identified two people who died in a Winchester multi-car crash just before midday Wednesday, and officials believe it was caused by a driver operating a truck while under the influence of drugs.
At about 11:40 a.m. at Domenigoni Parkway and Leon Road, a 2013 International box truck driven by Delwyn Randle, a 39-year-old from Westminster, crashed into a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado that was stopped at a red light, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.
The Silverado then hit the 2022 BMW X3 in front of it, and a Dodge Durango that was stopped two lanes over was hit by debris from the crash as well. The Riverside County Fire Department initially said on X, formerly Twitter, that only two vehicles were involved, but the CHP later revised that total.
The box truck then hit a light pole, shearing it at its base, and crashed into a fire hydrant.
In addition to the deaths and injuries, the crash spilled about 50 gallons of oil and diesel fuel on the roadway, forcing the closure of eastbound Domenigoni Parkway for “an extended period of time,” the RCFD said.
Two people in the BMW, rear passenger 25-year-old Israel Bermudez of Buena Park and 32-year-old Paloma Casares of Hemet, the driver, were declared dead at the scene about 20 minutes after the crash. While the Coroner’s Office said Bermudez was 25, the CHP listed his age as 29.
“We’re still pretty much in shock,” said Tatiana Steele, Casares’ sister. “Just kind of taking it day by day. Our emotions just come and go.”
A third person in the BMW, a 31-year-old man in the front passenger seat, suffered minor injuries, as did the driver of the Silverado, a 32-year-old woman from Hemet.
The Dodge’s driver, a 36-year-old Hemet man, and his 34-year-old female passenger were uninjured.
After the crash, Randle was arrested for felony DUI, and he will also be charged for the two deaths, the CHP said. Officials did not detail the substance that Randle had allegedly ingested before driving.
Randle is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 bail. He’s due to appear in court Friday morning.
“She was my best friend,” Steele said of Casares, a young mother. “She was the most generous, kind, loving, happy person to be around.”
A GoFundMe page was created for the families of Casares and Bermudez to help with funeral expenses.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Jason Montez at 951-769-2000 ext. 221. After hours, call 916-407-7511.