Emergency personnel were on scene of a multiple car crash just before 11 a.m. Tuesday on southbound Interstate 15 in Temecula, according to California Highway Patrol.
An elderly woman was injured in the wreck involving four cars just before the Santiago Road overpass, between Rancho California Road and Highway 79 South, according to CHP Officer Coon.
A red Toyota Prius, a silver Lexus RX350 and a Jeep were among the cars involved, Patch learned at the scene.
The slow lane was closed at the accident, while the other three lanes remained open.
"It was a minor injury crash that happened in the slow lane; traffic was slowed to a stop in the area at the time," Coon said.
The Lexus sports utility vehicle did not stop in time, he said.
"The driver didn't realize traffic was stopping and hit the back of a red Prius. That Prius went up the embankment and the Lexus continued to hit the back of a silver Jeep Wrangler, which is pushed forward into the back of a Toyota Corolla," Coon said.
Stoppages are typical in that lane as traffic gets closer to the Highway 79 South/Temecula Parkway exit, he said.
"We are lucky no one got seriously injured here," Coon said.
"The main thing is (motorists should maintain) a high visual horizon...just paying attention and not being distracted by the things we always get distracted by...phones, radios, those kinds of things."
—Daniel Lane contributed to this report.
