Riverside man, Fontana woman died in 60 Freeway crash in Ontario

Last Updated on January 3, 2019 by CCAR Staff

A Riverside man and a Fontana woman have been identified as the two people killed in a Saturday crash on the 60 Freeway in Ontario, when witnesses said the car they were in went airborne and struck a roadside palm tree.

Jose Lopez, 25, of Riverside, and Krystina Gutierrez, 33, of Fontana died in the crash, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s office said. Initial reports gave different hometowns for them.

The California Highway Patrol reported that a white 1999 Volkswagen Jetta heading westbound on the freeway east of Archibald Avenue just before 8:40 p.m. Saturday was going an estimated 80 mph when witnesses said it merged from the No. 3 to the No. 4 lane — heading into the freeway’s slower lanes.

For an unknown reason, the Jetta abruptly turned right and crossed the No. 5 lane and left the roadway, went airborne, and struck a palm tree along the dirt embankment next to the freeway, the CHP said.

Lopez, who was driving, was ejected from the vehicle. He and Gutierrez were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither appeared to have been wearing their seat belts, the CHP said.