Illegal U-Turn Prompts Three-Car Wreck

A man attempting to make an illegal u-turn on Antelope Road just north of Scott Road caused a three-car wreck today, authorities on scene said.

The crash, which occurred around 9 a.m., may have been triggered by heavier than normal traffic on the roadway due to a , said Greg Berry, a deputy with the Menifee Police Department.

A dark blue Toyota Camry being driven by a solo male northbound on Antelope, just before Garbani Road, made an illegal u-turn, Berry said.

A lady in a minivan was also heading north, and swerved out of the way of the Camry, Berry said, hitting a Honda being driven by a 17-year-old Vista Murrieta High School football player who was heading south to practice.

There were no life-threatening injuries, but the woman in the minivan, a Mercury Villager, was taken to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center with bumps and bruises, Berry said.

"I think due to traffic [from the freeway] people just got a little impatient and I think that is what happened here," Berry said.

Colin Garcia, the Vista Murrieta student, said it was his first car accident.

He called his parents and his dad arrived from their home in nearby Menifee.

"I knew he was OK because he called, he was able to make a phone call," said his father, Roberto Garcia.

Airbags deployed in Colin's car, a Honda Accord, which sustained front-end damage to the left side.

The Camry was damaged at its right rear wheel. The driver of the Camry declined to comment.