Sleepy driver rolls SUV in Hemet
A man who fell asleep while driving on Gibbel Road was slightly injured when he rolled his van. Tracy Levesque photo
Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters responded to the accident scene Tracy Levesque photo
HEMET – An SUV rolled over on a winding road in unincorporated Hemet when the driver of the vehicle reportedly fell asleep at the wheel.
The rollover accident happened on Gibbel Road in the Santa Rosa Hills, east of South State Street and west of Avery Canyon Road Sept. 7 and was first reported to California Highway Patrol officers at about 4:36 p.m.
CHP officers and Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters responded to the minor injury rollover after at least one person called 911 to report the single-vehicle accident.
The 18-year-old driver reportedly told responding officers he had fallen asleep while driving westbound on Gibbel Road. He woke up after the vehicle he was driving hit the side of the mountain, rolled over, and came to rest upside down on its roof.
The vehicle was described as a newer silver Toyota Highlander SUV.
Gibbel Road was closed until the rolled van could be removed from the roadway. Ricardo Ruelas photo
The driver of the SUV was evaluated at the scene by paramedics and he declined further treatment.
At just after 5 p.m., a flat bed tow truck was summoned to the scene to remove the mangled van from the roadway.
Gibbel Road was temporarily closed to through traffic until the vehicle could be removed from the roadway.
As of this report, it was not known if the driver was cited or if alcohol or drug intoxication were considered factors in the accident.
CHP officials are conducting an accident investigation which is active and ongoing.
Click any image for full-size photo gallery.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 10 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.
Thank you for your coverage. I was coming home from work and was stopped on Gibbel until the scene was cleared. Just turned off my engine and face booked on my mobile. When I was able to continue home, saw your camera crew at work. Thanks again for keeping us informed!!