REDLANDS, CA — On Saturday, November 25, a hit-and-run crash in an unincorporated area outside of Redlands resulted in the death of a Montebello woman and critical injuries to two other women. The collision occurred around 6:25 a.m. when a black Kia, heading east on San Bernardino Avenue, ran a red light and collided with a semi-truck traveling north on Alabama Street, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The Redlands Fire Department described the Kia as “mangled,” and one passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle. All three Kia passengers were transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center in critical condition. Sadly, one of the victims, identified as 38-year-old Valerie D. Ibarra of Montebello, succumbed to her injuries.
The other two victims, a 31-year-old San Bernardino resident, and a 38-year-old Redlands resident, remain in critical condition.
The driver of the Kia fled the scene and was still being sought by authorities. The CHP is actively trying to identify the driver, and investigators are searching for surveillance footage. The Kia’s owner was one of the passengers, and the reason for not driving, the driver’s flight, and their relationship with the passengers remain unknown.
The semi truck driver, a 38-year-old resident of Rancho Cucamonga, sustained minor injuries.