Fiery Collision of Trucks Kills 2 Children, Woman

Two Corona sisters and a Vista woman were killed when a pickup truck collided with a larger truck in a canyon between Beaumont and San Jacinto, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County coroner’s office said Monday.

Christina, 4 months, and Jennifer Cortez, 6 years old, died Sunday when the truck they were riding in collided with a pickup, rolled over and burst into flames, according to Officer Bob Crain of the California Highway Patrol’s Banning station.

A passenger in the pickup, Kathryn Louise Hailey, 66, of Vista, also died at the scene.

Truck Failed to Halt

Highway Patrol investigators said the girls were passengers in a five-ton, 1965 Ford truck driven by their father, Jose Cortez, 30. He was hauling potatoes west on Gilman Springs Road when he failed to stop for a flashing red light and stop sign at an intersection with Lamb Canyon Road (California Route 79), Crain said.

Kathryn Hailey’s husband, Norman, was towing a travel trailer with his 1979 Ford pickup south on Lamb Canyon Road.

Hailey braked but could not avoid skidding broadside into the larger truck, Crain said. When Cortez’s truck rolled onto its left side, the two trucks and the travel trailer burst into flames.

Cortez was reported in critical but stable condition Monday at San Bernardino County Medical Center. Hailey was reported in guarded condition in the intensive care unit at Hemet Valley Hospital.

Mother Treated and Released

The girls’ mother, Martha Cortez, 24, sustained moderate injuries and was treated at Hemet Valley and released.

The intersection was closed for almost six hours Sunday while investigators sifted through the debris of the accident, Crain said. No charges were filed Monday.

Linda Bechler, vice president and owner of Mountain View Medical, where Martha Cortez works as a purchasing agent, said the company has opened a trust fund for the Cortez family at Western Community Bank in Corona.