3 dead, 2 injured in freeway collision

Three people were killed and two were critically injured in a fiery collision Saturday on Interstate 15.

The crash closed the southbound side of the freeway for eight hours, backing up traffic as far as 25 miles at one point, according to authorities. The freeway reopened shortly after noon.

Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann said three vehicles crashed about 4:20 a.m.

Hagemann said one of the vehicles was ablaze when fire crews arrived.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision, which authorities say was triggered by a wrong-way driver.