Photo by Jenny Kirchner
Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Saturday evening about 8:45 p.m., a fatal traffic accident occurred in Mountain Center.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Murawski, Hiroko Momii, 67 of Idyllwild was traveling north on Highway 243 in her Silver Subaru Forester. Ron Delbert Barney, 25 of Lake Elsinore was traveling south on Hwy 243 in his black Honda Civic.

Barney crossed the double yellow, traveling at an unknown speed, crashing head on with Momii. Barney was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mercy Air Ambulance airlifted Momii to Riverside Regional Medical Center with major injuries, including a laceration to the head and multiple broken bones. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.