Tori Spelling and Four Children Hospitalized After California Car Crash

Tori Spelling, 52, was driving four of her children and three of their friends through Temecula, California on Thursday, April 2, when another driver allegedly ran a red light at speed and struck her vehicle just before 5:45 p.m. The collision sent all eight passengers to area hospitals in three separate ambulances.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office confirmed deputies were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash, which occurred roughly 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Officers found both cars with visible collision damage, with the striking vehicle described as significantly more damaged than Spelling's. All occupants were evaluated at the scene before being transported. Injuries across the group included cuts, bruises, contusions, and concussions; none were believed to be life-threatening, and all were reported in stable condition.

No arrests were made. The incident remains under investigation.

Spelling shares five children with her ex-husband Dean McDermott: Liam, 19, Stella, 17, Hattie, 14, Finn, 13, and Beau, 9. Four of those five were in the vehicle. Eyewitnesses recorded video of Spelling speaking with a responding officer at the scene; those who saw the footage described her as not angry but "hyped up on adrenaline."

The circumstances of the crash reflect a documented pattern of danger at signalized intersections. Red-light running resulted in 1,149 deaths and more than 107,000 injuries across the United States in 2022. In California specifically, red-light and intersection violations resulting in severe injuries cost the state approximately $985 million between 2021 and 2023, averaging $327.3 million per year, with 28 percent of that attributed to medical costs.

Children's outcomes in intersection crashes are closely tied to restraint compliance. NHTSA estimates that correctly used child restraints reduce fatalities by 54 percent for children ages 1 to 4 in passenger cars, and lap/shoulder seat belts, when properly worn, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants age 5 and older by 45 percent. The California Highway Patrol notes that most collisions occur within a mile of the home, making proper restraint essential for every trip, no matter how short, and offers free car-seat installation checks through its local area offices statewide. Confirming that restraints are correctly installed before each trip remains the single most effective protective measure a driver can take.