3 members of OC family killed in crash on 10 Freeway in Riverside County

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KABC) -- Two children and one adult from an Orange County family were killed - and multiple others were injured - when their SUV collided with a Tesla on the 10 Freeway in Riverside County early Sunday.

The impact from the crash caused a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, carrying nine members of the Anaheim family, to overturn on the freeway, according to the CHP. Six people were thrown from the Suburban, and one was partially ejected.

The deceased victims were described as two girls, ages 8 and 12, and a 31-year-old woman.

"This was a traumatic scene with injuries of young people and a mother on Mother's Day," said CHP spokesman Jason Montez. "It's heartwrenching."

Suffering major injuries were 2 girls - ages 3 and 11 - and two boys, 15 and 7. With minor or moderate injuries were the adult driver and a 41-year-old passenger in the front seat.

CHP officials said all nine occupants of the Suburban were members of the same family from Anaheim.

The Suburban is supposed to seat eight people, the CHP said.

Investigators believe some of the passengers in the Suburban were not wearing seatbelts.

The driver and sole occupant of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 - a 31-year-old man from Indio - was not injured.

The CHP says the crash was reported at 7:24 a.m. on the eastbound 10, to the west of Haugen-Lehmann Way. The Tesla and Suburban collided in lanes, and the Suburban crashed into the center divider and flipped over.

It appears the collision happened at the left rear side of the Suburban, but which driver may be at fault and the cause of the crash are under investigation.

The eastbound 10 was closed until 3 p.m., when two lanes were re-opened, and then all lanes were opened by 3:30 p.m.

UPDATED: The genders and ages of some victims in this story have been updated after corrected information was provided by the CHP.