2 Hospitalized in Head-On Crash

Two people were hospitalized in a six-car pileup today.

A red Nissan Altima sped east on Rancho California Road around 3 p.m., smashed into numerous vehicles before veering into opposing traffic and hitting a black Lincoln four-door head on, according to witnesses.

Two people were rushed to a hospital with serious injuries, according to sheriff's Deputy Daniel Hoctor.

The driver of the Altima accelerated into the crash, said Larry Abbott, a Temecula resident who was driving the Lincoln.

"It's like (the driver) passed out and was pushing full-blast on the accelerator," Abbott said.

Mysterious circumstances

Some of the victims encountered the red vehicle only a few minutes earlier in the hills of De Luz.

Boston resident Geoff Fisher was driving toward Temecula with several friends when they found the Altima stopped in the middle of the road with the driver's door wide open, he said.

"He was sitting in the middle of the road with the door open, just sitting there," Fisher said.

They began to slowly pass him when the driver closed his door and started to drive, he said.

"He stopped and started several times," he said.

He reached a wider area of the road and Fisher passed the car, only to be rear-ended by it a few minutes later, he said.

"I wish we hadn't passed him," he said.

Driver's condition

Though official word on the Altima driver's condition was unavailable, witnesses said he was badly injured.

"His legs were all twisted around his back," said John Newman, a De Luz resident whose vehicle was hit.