Deadly Christmas Crash Reported On I-215

PERRIS, CA — One person is dead an other is hospitalized with serious injuries following a fiery single-car crash that left a vehicle overturned on the 215 Freeway in Perris on Christmas night, according to the California Highway Patrol and Riverside County Friday Department.

The wreck was reported around 6:50 p.m. on the northbound side of the freeway, between Van Buren and Harley Knox boulevards, fire officials said.

Witnesses told responding CHP officers the vehicle slammed into a bridge before it overturned and caught fire, according to preliminary reports. One victim died shortly thereafter.

"Upon arrival, it was determined the vehicle, a black Honda Civic, had overturned after striking the freeway overpass," CHP Officer Juan Quintero said in a news release. "Both the driver and passenger were not wearing seatbelts and were subsequently ejected from the vehicle upon impact."

The driver died at the scene and has been identified as Andy Ralphie Acuna Jr. of Riverside. He was just 19.

A male passenger who has not been identified suffered major injuries and was rushed to the hospital, Quintero said.

The CHP temporarily closed all northbound lanes and issued a SigAlert at 7:10 p.m. The number 1 lane was later reopened. And all lanes were reopened at 9:11 p.m.

The crash was being investigated by the CHP's Riverside office.

— City News Service contributed this report.