WINCHESTER: One killed, 1 injured in 2 vehicle crash on SR 79
One person was killed and another was injured in a two vehicle collision on SR 79 near Construction Road in Winchester. Loudlabs News
Contributing Writer/On Scene Reporter – William Hayes
By – Trevor Montgomery
Numerous emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the fatal traffic collision.
WINCHESTER – One person was killed and another was injured in a traffic collision Sept. 15. The fatal accident happened on State Route 79 just south of Construction Road in the unincorporated community of Winchester. The area where the crash occurred is south of Hemet and north of the cities of Temecula and Murrieta.
California Highway Patrol officers, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and AMR personnel responded to the traffic collision, which was first reported at about 6:25 p.m.
Emergency first responders arrived and found the mangled wreckage of two vehicles, a white Dodge Challenger and a grey Toyota Camry.
Paramedics quickly determined the driver of the Toyota was pinned in the vehicle and had already succumbed to his injuries. He was was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim required extrication from the destroyed Toyota. His name has not been released pending notification of his family.
The driver of the Dodge was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. William Hayes photo
In a comment on the Facebook page Hemet Valley Incidents Kelley Burwell, a resident of Hemet, identified herself as the mother of the victim killed in the collision. In her comment she wrote, “Thank you for all your prayers. It was my 20-year-old son killed in the accident.”
Paramedics treated the driver of the Dodge for complaints of pain. Her injuries were described by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Jody Hagemann as moderate. Paramedics then transported the driver of the Dodge to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
CHP officers are conducting an ongoing investigation into the cause of the deadly crash. It was unknown if alcohol or drug intoxication played a part in this collision, according to CHP Officer Blanco.
A preliminary investigation conducted by CHP revealed the Toyota was being driven northbound on Hwy 79 in the number two lane just before the crash occurred, Blanco said.
For an unknown reason the Toyota drifted off the right side of the roadway. The driver swerved back onto the road, over corrected and lost control of the Toyota, Blanco explained at the scene. The out of control vehicle then began to spin and crossed the center divider into the southbound number one lane.
A CHP officer surveys the damage to one of the vehicles involved in the fatal collision. William Hayes photo
The rear of the Toyota then collided with a white Dodge Challenger that was travelling southbound in the number one lane.
The vehicles came to rest in the southbound lanes of traffic, forcing the temporary closure of southbound Highway 79.
At about 7:15 p.m., southbound traffic was reopened and vehicles were allowed to use the center median to proceed. Motorists were backed up for several miles as they moved slowly past the wreckage.
As of 9:30 p.m. officers and other emergency personnel were still at the scene conducting an accident investigation and clearing the wrecked vehicles and debris from the roadway.
Anyone with information about this accident or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact the California Highway Patrol San Gorgonio area office at (951) 769-2000. Callers can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be updated as it becomes available.
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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 11 – soon to be 12 – grandchildren.