As reported by CHP Fatal Accident Feed
Date: November 12, 2026, 2:02 a.m.
Location: Westbound SR-91 near 14th Street, Riverside, Riverside County
Type: Car Accident
According to California Highway Patrol dispatch logs, a three-vehicle crash on westbound State Route 91 near 14th Street early Thursday resulted in a fatality and major emergency response.
The incident was first reported around 2:02 a.m. on November 12, with callers describing a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes near the 14th Street area. Additional reports indicated the wrong-way vehicle was swerving between cars and using multiple lanes, including the high-occupancy vehicle lane.
Dispatch entries stated that a white SUV overturned on its side and was involved in a collision with a big rig and a sedan in the slow lanes of westbound SR-91. Fluids were reported leaking from the big rig, with debris scattered across the roadway.
CHP logs show the crash was upgraded from a collision with unknown injuries to a fatal crash with an ambulance requested. Fire crews and multiple tow operators were called to the scene, along with heavy-duty equipment to handle the big rig and cleanup.
Caltrans was requested for a hard closure, and traffic was diverted off at 14th Street while only the carpool lane was kept open for limited traffic. A SigAlert was issued for at least two hours as crews worked to clear the scene, manage spills, and investigate.
Media outlets arrived while lanes remained restricted, and evidence tows were requested for the involved vehicles. CHP closed the incident in its system at about 5:17 a.m., after several hours of closures and cleanup.
The circumstances surrounding the wrong-way driving and the fatal injury remain under investigation, according to the dispatch information.
Source
CHP Fatal Accident Feed · original report
This summary was prepared from that report and is not a reproduction of it.
What California law says after a car accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Reporting requirements after a California collision
California imposes reporting duties on drivers that are separate from any insurance claim.
A report must be filed with the DMV on form SR-1 within ten days of a collision that caused any injury, any death, or more than one thousand dollars in property damage to any one person. This duty applies regardless of fault, applies even when police responded and wrote their own report, and is not satisfied by notifying an insurance company. With current repair costs, most collisions that involve a body shop meet the damage threshold.
A separate rule covers collisions causing injury or death. The driver must make a written report to the California Highway Patrol, or to the city police department where the collision happened in a city, within twenty four hours. The statute states this duty for every injury or fatal collision. In practice, where officers responded and completed a report at the scene, that report generally satisfies the agency’s need, but a driver who assumes this without confirming it is relying on practice rather than on the text of the law.
Missing the DMV deadline can lead to suspension of driving privileges, an outcome unrelated to who caused the collision.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer: fault, insurance offers, and what a claim is worth
- All practice areas
If a collision has affected your family, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can explain your options.
Published by The Law Offices of Burg and Brock editorial team. The incident summary was drafted with AI assistance from the cited report. Editorial and legal disclaimer.
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This article is general information, not legal advice.