UPDATED: Hemet man, 82, killed when 74 Corvette rolls in Perris, victim ID’d
UPDATE: 08/16/2016 1:15 am With release of coroner’s information
PERRIS – An 82-year-old Hemet resident who died in a single-vehicle wreck Friday, Aug. 12 has been identified. He was killed when the 1974 Corvette he was driving rolled several times on State Route 74 east of Sophie Street just outside the City of Perris. The deadly crash was reported at 8:57 a.m., according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig.
The victim, who coroner’s officials identified as James Quinn, had been traveling westbound when he lost control of his vehicle and spun off the road. According to a CHP report, he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the fatal accident.
Despite the posted 55 mph speed limit, at least one person who saw the accident told investigating officers Quinn had been driving well above the speed limit. Lassig confirmed the victim was driving faster than the posted speed limit.
“A Witness observed (Quinn) traveling at a high rate of speed and observed (the vehicle’s) right rear tire tread separate from the wheel,” Lassig explained.
“The victim lost control of his vehicle, causing it to spin clockwise towards the north roadway edge of SR-74,” Lassig said about the fatal accident. “The Corvette left the roadway traveling up an asphalt berm, colliding into a road sign, then overturning several times before it came to rest on its roof.”
Northbound aerial view of SR 74 in an unincorporated area southwest of the City of Perris. Sophie Street can be seen in the bottom left hand corner of the image.
Emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the accident to provide medical aid to Quinn. Paramedics transported Quinn to the Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff just under an hour later, at 9:50 a.m.
The California Highway Patrol Temecula Area Station is conducting this traffic collision investigation. No roads were closed during their investigation, although traffic moved very slowly through the area while emergency crews were on scene. The destroyed Corvette was eventually righted onto its’ wheels and towed from the location.
Anyone with information related to this incident or who witnessed the accident is encouraged to contact CHP officials at (951) 506-2000. Callers can remain anonymous.
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No name yet???
His name is Jim Quinn. He was my old boss for 6 years.
Thank you, but I will not officially release a name until the coroner’s office does or a family member authorizes me to.
Okay. I understand, ?
Omg I knew this man he was very nice….so sad
This was my grandfather and we share the same name. He was a good man. He lost his son about 25 years ago to a drug overdose. He ran a construction company for many years. I wish I could have known him better.