UPDATE: MURRIETA: Police still seeking witnesses after two killed in motorcycle accident

UPDATE: 10/10/2016 5:30 p.m. With information and identification from coroner’s office

 

MURRIETA – Police are searching for any witnesses to a double-fatal motorcycle collision that happened in the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Kalmia Street in Murrieta Oct. 1. Two people were killed while riding a motorcycle when they were involved in a traffic collision with a Range Rover.

“Although there were numerous witnesses to the collision…the cause of the accident and fault in the collision has not been determined at this time,” according to Murrieta Police Sergeant Jay Froboese.

The two victims were later identified by coroner’s officials as James Hann, 28, of El Cajon, and his passenger, Erica Cortez, 20, of Murrieta. The coroner’s release indicated Both Hann and Cortez were injured at 5:55 p.m. They died minutes apart about 30 minutes later. Cortez was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Hahn died just two minutes later, at 6:27 p.m.

The Murrieta Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and handled the investigation, according Froboese.

An investigation determined a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle ridden by Hann and his passenger, Cortez, was struck by a Land Rover in the middle of the intersection.

Both Cortez and Hann suffered fatal injuries in the collision. The driver of the Land Rover suffered minor injuries in the collision.

“At this point in the investigation it appears the motorcycle was being ridden westbound on Kalmia Street and the Land Rover was being driven southbound on Jefferson Avenue,” Froboese wrote in a press release about the deadly accident.

“It is also unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision.”

The Police Department is encouraging anyone that may have information, or may have witnessed the collision to call Lead Investigator Dave Hernandez at (951) 461-6396. Callers can refer to incident file number 1610M-0126 and can remain anonymous.

 

 

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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.