2 Men Killed, 1 Critically Hurt as Pickup Strikes Palm Tree

men were killed and one was critically injured when their pickup truck slammed into a palm tree beside Ontario Avenue in Corona’s agricultural area early Wednesday morning.

Mark A. Corona, 21, and Todd Ice, 19, both of Corona, died at the scene of the accident, near the intersection of Ontario and Lester avenues, said a spokeswoman for the Riverside County coroner.

David W. Knaak, 19, also a resident of Corona, suffered head and facial injuries and was admitted to the neurosurgical intensive care unit at Riverside General Hospital. He was in serious condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Corona was driving the Toyota pickup truck, with Ice and Knaak as passengers, when it slammed into a palm tree off the north shoulder of Ontario Avenue, police said.