The Riverside County coroner has identified the three construction workers — two of whom were from the Coachella Valley — who were killed Friday, Sept. 25, in a four-vehicle crash involving a big rig on the eastbound Interstate 10 in Blythe.
The victims were identified as Alfonso Vega Torres, 50, of Coachella; Francisco Morales Mendoza, 39, of Tonopah, Arizona; and Christopher Benavidez Guatemala, 27, of Coachella.
The crash was reported around 5:17 a.m. east of Intake Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. A preliminary investigation by the agency determined the big rig was traveling east at an unknown speed when it struck a parked attenuator construction vehicle and an unoccupied Chevrolet Silverado before colliding with a water
truck.
"During the sequence of events, three construction workers were also struck and sustained fatal injuries," the California Highway Patrol previously said.
The big rig driver, a 44-year-old Redlands man, suffered severe injuries to his head and leg and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Alcohol and drugs were not believed to be factors in the crash, the California Highway Patrol said.
Reporting from City News Service was used in this story.
Jennifer Cortez covers education and breaking news in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coroner identifies 3 construction workers killed in I-10 Blythe crash
