UPDATE – Child crushed between truck and trailer at Vail Lake recovering

UPDATE: 09/20/2016 11 a.m.

TEMECULA – A 5-year-old boy who was hit by a pickup truck at Vail Lake Village Resort Saturday, Sept. 17 is recovering. The RV resort and campground is located in an unincorporated area east of Temecula and south of Sage.

After the accident the boy – who suffered major traumatic, but non-life-threatening injuries – was flown by Mercy Air Ambulance to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego for treatment.

The young victim suffered a fractured tibia and facial fractures. The accident happened just before noon at the Vail Lake Village Resort – a recreational RV park, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Mike Lassig.

The boy was camping at the resort with a several families and other children when the accident happened, Lassig said. As a member of the group was backing up a Toyota Tundra to hook up to a trailer, the victim rode his bicycle between the truck and the trailer and was caught between the two, Lassig explained.

The victim was wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the accident, which possibly saved him from far worse injuries, according to Lassig. “His helmet obviously protected his skull – which could have been fractured – instead of just suffering facial fractures,” Lassig said. “This accident could have easily been so much worse.”

“We are strong supporters of all children wearing safety helmets anytime they are riding their bicycles. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the law for anyone under the age of 18, but it is just smart for all bicycle riders to wear a safety helmet at all times while they are riding,” Lassig explained. “Parents or caregivers of children under the age of 18 can be cited if their children are caught riding their bikes without a helmet on.”

The boy is still at Rady Children’s Hospital where he is recovering. He is expected to survive in spite of his major injuries.

When contacted and asked about the accident, the general manager from the resort was not available for comment.

 

ORIGINAL STORY Child hit by truck at RV resort suffers major injuries

TEMECULA – A 5-year-old boy sustained major injuries when he was struck by a pickup truck at the Vail Lake Village Resort Saturday, Sept. 17. The resort is located at 38000 Highway 79 in an unincorporated county area of Temecula.

The accident happened at 11:53 a.m. when a truck was backing up to hook up to a camping trailer, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Mike Lassig.

The young boy sustained major traumatic injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to a waiting Mercy Air helicopter. He was then flown to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego for treatment.

The exact nature of the boy’s injuries were not immediately known. However, his injuries were described as major, according to an incident report provided by Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman.

Vail Lake Village RV Resort is a campground that offers RV camping, fishing, hiking trails, and an outdoor playground for families to enjoy. The campground is located east of Temecula, about 9 miles east of I-15 on Highway 79 South and about 15 miles south of Sage. The resort sits on 8,000 acres of open land and is bordered by a quarter million acres of Cleveland National Forest and the Agua Tibia Wilderness, according to the resort’s website.

 

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as they become available.

 

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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.