Authorities are releasing more information about a Saturday evening accident that shut down a stretch of northbound Interstate 15 in Temecula, California, for nearly 7 hours.
According to The Patch, at approximately 6:00 p.m., two suspects stole a 2007 Freightliner from a weigh station in Rainbow.
The suspect began heading north on Interstate 15.
As Hartline merged into traffic, he collided with a 2001 Toyota Tacoma, driven by 22-year-old Kyle Schlosser. Schlosser sustained moderate injuries and his passenger, 19-year-old Sarah Small sustained serious injuries.
That collision set off a chain reaction of subsequent crashes.
Schlosser’s truck then crashed into a 2006 Toyota 4Runner driven by 56-year-old Anne Lennala and a 2006 Mercedes driven by 39-year-old Timothy Varga. Lennala sustained moderate injuries and Varga sustained minor injuries.
The truck then continued on its collision course. The Freightliner continued driving and crashed into a 2009 Ford Taurus driven by 42-year-old Kristine Thrower and a 2000 Honda Accord driven by 49-year-old Dio Nomany.
Thrower and her passenger sustained moderate injuries and Nomany sustained minor injuries.
The Freightliner then turned on its side. According to The Patch, a suspect ran from the crashed rig and got into a white van and fled the scene. Authorities have not offered a suspect description.
19-year-old Jerimiah Hartline, a suspect involved with stealing the truck, sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital and was later turned over to authorities.
The crash shutdown the highway for 7 hours.
Follow this link to pictures of the accident.
Sources: Temecula Patch