Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by C-CAR
A speeding Jeep Cherokee slammed into the back of a Kia SUV stopped at a red light in Rialto on Monday evening, Aug. 1, killing the Jeep’s driver and a woman and an 8-year-old girl in the other car in a crash that involved seven vehicles, authorities said.
#BREAKING 3 killed, 2 injured in violent, fiery collision involving 7 vehicles at Rialto intersectionhttps://t.co/A6vEX2VE5Q
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 2, 2022
The man driving the Jeep Cherokee had been speeding along Valley Boulevard at Riverside Avenue, Rialto police Cpl. Nic Parcher said.
The Kia Sorento burst into flames, Parcher said, and several bystanders tried to help officers extinguish the flames but could not.
The occupants of the Kia who died were identified as the driver, 33-year-old Ashley Gilroy, and 8-year-old Marlee Maldonado, both residents of Highland.
The Jeep driver who died was identified Wednesday as Paul Larios, 35, San Bernardino.
Witnesses told investigators the Jeep’s driver was headed eastbound on Valley when he sideswiped a pickup truck near Willow Avenue, police said. He continued on, speeding and swerving, before slamming into the Kia while it was stopped at a red light at the intersection just before 6:30 p.m.
The momentum pushed the Kia into the back of a Honda, police said, and ultimately four other vehicles were tangled up as well, police said.
The Honda caught fire — it was unclear how many occupants were in it and how badly they were hurt.
Two other people were taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
