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Hemet, CA (June 11, 2026) – Two people died, including a 9-year-old boy, and three others were hospitalized after a multi-vehicle collision Tuesday evening, June 10, at Ramona Expressway and Lincoln Avenue near Hemet.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash happened around 6:00 p.m. According to the preliminary account, an 18-year-old Hemet woman was driving a Nissan Rogue on Lincoln Avenue and was approaching the intersection to turn left onto Ramona Expressway.
At the same time, a 41-year-old Hemet man, later identified by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office-Coroner as Nicholas McWhirter, was driving a Nissan Versa east on Ramona Expressway.
CHP reported that the Nissan Rogue and Nissan Versa collided in the intersection. The impact sent the Versa spinning counterclockwise into westbound lanes, where it was then struck by a Ford Mustang Mach-E driven by a 34-year-old Hemet woman.
McWhirter and his 9-year-old son, Dominic, were pronounced dead at the scene. CHP said both were believed to have been properly restrained. The driver and passenger in the Nissan Rogue, along with the Ford Mustang driver, were taken to Riverside University Health System with injuries described as minor to moderate.
The cause remains under investigation. Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Nicholas McWhirter and Dominic.
Where the Crash Happened: Ramona Expressway and Lincoln Avenue
The collision occurred at the intersection of Ramona Expressway and Lincoln Avenue near Hemet in Riverside County. Ramona Expressway carries through traffic across the area, while the reported crash sequence began with a turning movement from Lincoln Avenue and an eastbound vehicle approaching on the expressway.
That kind of intersection can create a sharp conflict point: one driver is making or preparing for a turn while another is traveling through the crossing roadway. In this case, CHP has not said which driver had the right of way or what the signal phase was at the moment of impact.
What We Know
- The crash happened around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at Ramona Expressway and Lincoln Avenue near Hemet.
- Three vehicles were involved: a Nissan Rogue, a Nissan Versa, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E.
- Nicholas McWhirter and his 9-year-old son, Dominic, died at the scene.
- CHP reported that both fatal victims were believed to have been properly restrained.
- Three other people were hospitalized with minor to moderate injuries.
- CHP said impairment has not been ruled in or out.
- The collision remains under investigation.
Why Secondary Impacts Can Make Multi-Vehicle Crashes More Severe
In a multi-vehicle crash, the first collision is not always the only dangerous moment. CHP’s preliminary description shows how quickly the scene changed after the Nissan Rogue and Nissan Versa collided. The Versa did not simply stop at the point of impact, it spun into opposing lanes and was struck again by a third vehicle.
That secondary impact matters because occupants may already be displaced, the vehicle may be moving unpredictably, and oncoming drivers have little time to react. On an expressway, even an intersection crash can involve higher approach speeds than a typical neighborhood street. When a vehicle is pushed or spun into another lane, the danger expands beyond the first two vehicles involved.
For investigators, the sequence is critical. They will need to determine how the initial contact occurred, how the Versa moved afterward, and how the Mustang became involved in the westbound lanes.
How This Crash Is Investigated
Because this was a fatal multi-vehicle collision, investigators will focus on the timeline and physical evidence at the intersection. That can include the vehicles’ final resting positions, areas of damage, debris patterns, any available roadway marks, and witness accounts from people who saw the crash or the moments leading up to it.
CHP will also review right-of-way questions, including the turning movement from Lincoln Avenue and the eastbound approach on Ramona Expressway. Signal timing, driver statements, and any available video from nearby sources may help clarify what happened before the first impact.
The agency has also said it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs played a role. That does not mean impairment caused the crash; it means investigators have not completed that part of the review. Until CHP releases additional findings, the cause should be treated as undetermined.
What to Do After a California Crash Report Is Filed
For California crashes investigated by the California Highway Patrol, the verified report custodian is: California Highway Patrol (CHP) — for crashes CHP investigated (freeways/state hwys/unincorporated). Local PD for city streets.
The official report options listed for California are: CHP Crash Portal — crashes.chp.ca.gov; or CHP 190 form by mail/in person. The report form information is CHP 555 (report); CHP 190 (request).
The verified fee information for California is: Online portal $22; mail/in-person $10 per 25 pages (CHP). The listed availability timeline is: Available after officer files; portal shows when ready.
California access is restricted. The verified eligibility language is: Party of interest: driver, passenger, vehicle/property owner, parent/guardian, legal/insurance rep (VC 20012). The confidentiality note is: Not public — restricted to parties of interest (no fixed day window).
For anyone involved in the crash or supporting an injured person, the official report is important because early news accounts may not include the final sequence, diagrams, statements, or agency conclusions. Medical records, vehicle-damage documentation, and any notes about symptoms or follow-up care should also be kept together, especially when injury severity changes after the first hospital evaluation.
Sourcing Note: Local Accident Reports compiles incident information from official agencies and credible local sources. Details from initial reports may be updated as official investigations conclude. If you have direct knowledge that any information here is inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and correct the record.
