Two people were injured Thursday in Murrieta in a crash in which one driver is suspected of running a red light.
Murrieta police and fire personnel responded to the wreck that was reported at about 12:45 p.m. at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Elm Street. Responding crews found two damaged vehicles—a red Ford Mustang and a white Kaiser Permanente van—at the intersection, according to Murrieta police Sgt. Jay Froboese.
Based on statements gathered from witnesses, Froboese said the driver of the Kaiser Permanente van was westbound on Elm when he entered the intersection on a green light.
"According to independent witnesses that saw the accident, the red Mustang was (traveling) north on Jefferson, then ran a red light, then slid into the driver's side of the van," Froboese said.
Both drivers complained of pain and were taken by ambulance to an area hospital, Froboese said, adding that the accident was a good reminder to stop at red lights.
"We would ask all drivers to pay particular attention to the red lights in Murrieta," Froboese said. "We recently shut down the red-light cameras and red-light issues have not been in the news lately but it is one of the types of accidents that cause the most serious injuries."
(In November 2012, Murrieta voters approved a measure to ban red-light cameras in the city.)
"We'd really appreciate—from the Police Department and the Fire Department's point of view—(for motorists) to be especially careful with running red lights or pushing the yellow light. Just make sure that you stop on the red to avoid this type of accident."
Thursday's crash was still being investigated, so it had not yet been determined whether the Mustang driver would be cited for a red-light violation, according to the sergeant.
"We didn't see any impairment so we don't believe (alcohol or drugs) are going to be an issue," Froboese said.
