HEMET, Calif. (AP) — A pickup truck ran into a group of students who were crossing a street outside a California high school on Wednesday, leaving nine people injured and backpacks and clothing strewn across an intersection.

The accident occurred shortly after school ended for the day at Hemet High School, Riverside County fire officials said in a statement.

Three people were in critical condition and five more were taken to hospitals with minor injuries. Those injured included the driver of the truck and at least five students, officials said.

Witnesses told the Riverside Press-Enterprise that a white Ford Ranger went straight through a right-turn only lane and ran a red light before hitting students who were in a crosswalk leading to a student parking lot and the school football stadium.

Backpacks and clothing were strewn near the school following the crash, NBC4-TV reported.

Cause of the Hemet Crash

California Highway Patrol Officer Darren Meyer said. About 30 people were in the crosswalk, headed toward the student parking lot and the school’s football stadium, Meyer said.

The driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and he stopped immediately to help the victims, Meyer said.

The CHP would decide whether to file criminal charges after a thorough investigation, including a mechanical inspection of the truck, Meyer said.

Law enforcement was reviewing video from multiple cameras around campus that recorded the accident.

Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Liability

While the accident on May 30 remains under investigation, the family members of the victim’s would be well-advised to seek immediate consultation from a  personal injury Lawyer. An experienced attorney can advise the victims of their legal rights and decide the best course of action in recovering the maximum compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Also, in unique and complex situations such as this one, an attorney can hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident to determine who is at fault.

The  personal injury attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme grief and sorrow associated with the serious injury of a loved one.  The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its personal injury cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your personal injury case.

The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case.  As in all wrongful death and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf.  Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery.  If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm.