CAJON PASS, CA — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a single-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass as 20-year-old Jheney N. Harris of Victorville. The crash happened at about 1:53 p.m. July 15, 2026, after 911 dispatchers received reports that a vehicle had left the roadway north of Kenwood Avenue. Emergency crews found the vehicle upside down about 80 feet down an embankment with three occupants trapped inside. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other adults were critically injured.
Technical Rescue Response
The California Highway Patrol said the collision remains under investigation by its San Bernardino Area office. Firefighters from the San Bernardino County Fire Department, along with help from CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit and the San Bernardino National Forest, upgraded the incident to a technical rescue because of the steep terrain. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation Division also assisted at the scene. Crews descended the embankment to begin patient care and coordinate the extrication. One critically injured patient was hoisted by helicopter to a local trauma center, and another was lifted in a Stokes basket before being taken by ambulance.
Hazardous Conditions At Scene
Fire officials said the response required rapid coordination because the crash site was difficult to reach and temperatures were above 100 degrees. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the combined effort of firefighters, paramedics and cooperating agencies allowed crews to reach the patients quickly despite the dangerous setting. The agency said the incident highlighted the specialized training and teamwork needed for complex rescues in the pass. The vehicle came to rest well below the freeway, making access difficult for the crews working on the slope. Officials said that kind of terrain can slow a response, especially when victims are trapped and time is critical.
Family Starts Fundraiser
After Harris’ death, her mother, Tamara Wallace, launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Celebrating Jhenéy Wallace’s Beautiful Life” to help cover funeral costs and honor her daughter. Wallace described Harris as her firstborn and best friend, and said she was a loving older sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, teammate and friend. The fundraiser says donations will help provide the “beautiful homegoing service” Harris deserves. It also asks people who cannot give money to share the page and keep the family in their thoughts and prayers. The campaign uses the family’s last name in the title as a tribute to Harris.
What Investigators Want
CHP investigators are still asking for help from anyone who saw the crash or has information about what happened. Officer S. De Alva, ID 23457, is listed as the contact for the San Bernardino Area office and can be reached at (909) 383-4247. Officials have not released a cause for the collision or said why the vehicle left the freeway. The case remains an active investigation as authorities work to determine the circumstances that led to the rollover and the deadly drop down the embankment. For the family, the focus has shifted to remembering Harris and arranging a service that reflects her life.