Three firefighters were also taken to a hospital after the collision at Domenigoni Parkway and State Street.
HEMET, CA — A 10-year-old boy and a driver were killed Friday afternoon when a Mini Cooper and a Cal Fire engine collided at a Hemet intersection, authorities said.
The crash drew a major emergency response in Riverside County and closed part of a busy roadway while investigators worked at the scene. The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. Authorities had not released the names of the driver or child as of Saturday, June 6.
The collision was reported at about 12:35 p.m. Friday at Domenigoni Parkway and State Street, a major intersection in the Hemet area. Cal Fire Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr. said the firefighters were responding to a brush fire in the San Bernardino National Forest when the engine and the Mini Cooper collided. The crash happened as Southern California fire crews were also responding to vegetation fires in the region. Hemet police, CHP officers and additional fire crews went to the intersection after the crash was reported.
The driver of the Mini Cooper died at the scene, the CHP said. The 10-year-old boy, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was taken to a hospital and later died. Another child who had been in the back seat was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Authorities said the people in the Mini Cooper were wearing seatbelts. Three firefighters aboard the engine were also taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Their injuries were not described as critical in early reports.
Officials had not said by Saturday what caused the collision, which vehicle had the right of way or whether speed, traffic signals, road conditions or emergency warning equipment were factors. Early reports from the scene said the smaller vehicle was damaged heavily and that the driver required extrication. Southbound lanes on State Street were closed for several hours while officers and investigators worked at the intersection. The closure affected nearby traffic, including local school bus routes.
The fire engine was described as a Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department engine. The crew was headed toward a blaze burning near Highway 74 at the western edge of the San Bernardino National Forest, officials said. Fire engines responding to emergencies often travel through public intersections with lights and sirens, but investigators had not released the specific movements of the engine or the Mini Cooper before the crash. Those details are expected to be part of the CHP review.
The deaths add to the toll of serious crashes in Riverside County, where fast-growing communities rely on wide arterial roads that carry commuters, school traffic and emergency vehicles. Domenigoni Parkway is a key east-west route in the Hemet area, connecting residential areas with State Street and other regional roads. The crash also raises questions for investigators about emergency response travel, intersection control and the sequence of events before impact. Authorities have not announced whether any citations or charges are expected.
The CHP investigation remains open. Investigators are expected to review physical evidence from the scene, vehicle damage, witness statements and any available traffic or nearby surveillance video. The Riverside County coroner’s office will handle formal identification of the two people who died and notification of relatives. Officials had not announced a news briefing or a date for releasing a preliminary crash report.
By Saturday, the crash scene had cleared, but the investigation was continuing. The next public update is expected to come from the CHP or Riverside County officials after investigators confirm the victims’ identities and determine how the collision occurred.
Author note: Last updated June 6, 2026.