Car Hits School Retaining Wall After Separate Crash

A car crashed into a retaining wall today at after its driver was allegedly involved in a minor "fender bender" just a few blocks away, police said.

The car, a maroon Nissan Sentra driven by an 18- to 19-year-old young woman, hit the wall at about 10:23 a.m. as she was heading north on Whitewood Road. The driver had allegedly scraped a silver Volkswagen Jetta as she was exiting the Murrieta Gateway shopping center near the intersection of Whitewood and Los Alamos Road, according to police.

"A fender bender happened down the street and she said she had no idea," said Murrieta police Officer Rob Aberle, who responded to the crash. "She got a little scared (by the other driver) and ran into the wall as she was coming around the curve."

The driver of the Nissan and an 11-year-old passenger were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries suffered when the airbags deployed, Aberle said.

It was unclear if the driver of the Volkswagen pursued the young driver, but she was seen giving a statement to police at the scene of the final crash.

Aberle said there were no citations issued or crimes committed, based on preliminary information received.

The campus of Vista Murrieta was closed for spring break, but some cars still came and went through the side entrance where the crash occurred.