Rancho Cucamonga, CA : Three people were killed and two others were seriously injured in crash on early Sunday July 20th 2014.

A wrong-way driver slammed head-on into another car on the 210 Freeway here early Sunday, killing himself and two of four family members riding in the other vehicle, authorities said.Two other members of a family suffered major injuries, in the crash, which occurred just after 2 a.m. in the eastbound lanes just west of Day Creek Road, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Josh Buffum said.

The wrong-way driver was identified as Mack A. Jaramillo, 28, of La Habra, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office. He was the sole occupant of a 2011 Hyundai, and investigators were looking into the possibility he was under the influence of alcohol, the CHP said.Two women who were rear passengers in the other vehicle, a 2013 Hyundai, struck by the wrong-way vehicle died, Buffum said. They were identified as Falguni Shah, 38, of Fontana and Veena Shah, 42, of London.

The driver of the 2013 Hyundai, 60-year-old Nitin Shah of Chino Hills, and front passenger Jyotsna Shah, 56, also of Chino Hills were hospitalized with major injuries, Buffum said.CHP Capt. Joe Flores told the Associated Press that the Shah family was returning from a family reunion when they became involved in the violent collision, which took place in the carpool lane of the eastbound 210.

“(Jaramillo) was travelling westbound in the eastbound High Occupancy Vehicle lane of the 210 Freeway, at a high rate of speed, as determined by witness’ statement,” a CHP officer said in a written statement.The family was eastbound in the carpool lane at an undetermined speed, officials said. The cars collided head-on.

Jyotsna Shah was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, where she was receiving care for broken bones. She said her husband was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was being treated for injuries including fractures in both legs.Jyotsna Shah said she remembered little about what happened early Sunday and didn’t remember anything after the crash because she passed out after the impact.Rancho Cucamonga fire Battalion Chief Eric Noreen said firefighters had to cut open both of the wrecked cars to gain access to the victims. Jaramillo, Falguni Shah and Veena Shah were pronounced dead at the scene.

A rescue helicopter landed on the freeway to rush one of the badly injured survivors to a hospital, Noreen said.Buffum said it was unclear exactly where the wrong-way Hyundai entered the freeway. There is an off-ramp leading from the carpool lane of the eastbound 210 just east of the crash scene to the Beech Avenue exit, which the wrong-way driver may have driven up to access the freeway. The investigation was ongoing.

Source :
Wrong-way crash on 210 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga leaves 3 dead