Liberty High School student dies in traffic collision

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Liberty High School community is mourning the death of a female student in a traffic collision Thursday night.

The County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Giovanna Rizzo, 17, of Murrieta. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred at the intersection of Winchester Road and Keller Road about 8:59 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The victim was the front passenger in a Nissan Titan that collided with a GMC Sierra in the intersection.

According to the CHP, the GMC Sierra was traveling northbound on Winchester Road and the Nissan Titan was traveling eastbound on Keller Road. The Sierra’s front end broadsided the passenger side of the Titan. The GMC Sierra, driven by a 30-year-old male from Winchester, rolled over after the collision.

The driver of the Nissan Titan -- an 18-year-old male -- and a rear seat passenger were airlifted to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries. The driver of the GMC Sierra was transported via ambulance with severe injuries, the CHP said.

A social media announcement, which didn’t name the student, was posted by Liberty High School late this morning.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that one of our students was involved in a serious car accident yesterday evening,” the statement from principal Erika Tejeda read. “Unfortunately, it has been reported the student passed away at the scene.

“Today will be a very difficult day for our students and staff; we will have counseling services available on campus. We ask that you keep the Liberty HERD family in your thoughts as we mourn the loss of one of our own.”

This is the second death of a Liberty student in a traffic collision this school year. Clarissa Lewis, 16, died in a collision in Menifee on Dec. 11.