SAN JACINTO – Two people died in separate traffic collisions Monday in San Jacinto that occurred only minutes apart, authorities said.

The first accident happened around 12:55 p.m. on the Ramona Expressway, west of Cedar Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Betty Rae Drewett, 69, of Hemet, was killed when her sedan collided with another vehicle, according to the Riverside County Coroner's Office.

The other driver was seriously injured and had to be freed from the wreckage by firefighters, according to Fire Capt. Aaron Martinez.

Three engine crews, numbering about nine personnel, spent roughly an hour and 20 minutes at the scene. The injured driver was flown via helicopter to a trauma center, Martinez said.

A three-vehicle crash on Gilman Springs Road, east of Bridge Street, was reported just after 1 p.m., authorities said.

Four victims were involved, several of them trapped in the wreckage, according to Martinez. One person died at the scene, he said.

Crews spent about 90 minutes at the scene, according to Martinez.

Two victims were in critical condition and transported to a hospital, along with another person in moderate condition, fire officials said.

The California Highway Patrol was investigating both accidents.