HEMET: Juvenile struck by truck while being chased across Florida Ave.
Officers at the scene with a white Ford pickup truck that struck a juvenile who was running across Florida Ave, Robert Carter photo
HEMET – A boy was struck by a truck when he ran into traffic on Florida Avenue near Buena Vista Street Monday, Nov. 14. The child, who has not been identified, was transported to a trauma center with head injuries. His current condition has not been updated.
According to witnesses at the scene the juvenile and several other boys, whom they believed to be between 10 to 14 years old, ran onto the busy road while being chased by several unidentified subjects. The people who were chasing the minors were believed to possibly be adults.
The violent accident, that happened in front of the City of Hemet’s Engineering Department and Fire Administration building, was reported to City of Hemet emergency dispatchers about 5:11 p.m. Hemet police officers, Hemet firefighter/paramedics, and Hemet sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene of the accident after it was called in by several citizens. The first official to arrive at the location was a Hemet police officer, who arrived within one minute of the dispatched call.
Emergency personnel treat the injured juvenile after he was struck by a passing truck. Miguel Shannon photo
Within minutes of his arrival, the officer requested Mercy Air for the victim. While Mercy Air was preparing to respond to Hemet Valley Hospital to pick up the juvenile, their response was cancelled and the child was instead prepared to be transported by ground ambulance to the trauma center at Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley.
American Medical Response medics transported the victim to RUHS at 5:26 p.m., with a firefighter/paramedic on board the ambulance.
Witness at the scene stated they saw a group believed to be older teenagers or adults chasing the pre-teen aged juveniles when the victim attempted to run across the street. A lifted, white Ford pickup truck that was traveling in the eastbound number one lane on Florida Avenue did not have time to stop before hitting the child. The subjects chasing the juvenile all fled the area after the incident occurred.
The driver of the truck that hit the minor remained at the scene and was cooperating with officials. Miguel Shannon photo
One person, who declined to be identified for this report, stated her 13-year-old cousin was one of the children who was being chased with the victim when he was struck by the passing pickup truck.
“My cousin ran to my house behind Steve’s Burgers because they were being chased by a car filled with Hispanic men (because) one of the boys kicked a mailbox down a few days ago,” she explained. “When they (saw) the boys again today they had intentions to fight them.”
Another parent of one of the minors who was being chased, who requested not to be identified out of fear of retribution, said her son had tried to explain to officers what had happened.
“My son tried talking to police but they didn’t want to talk to him or take his information, so as of now my son has not made a report,” the woman explained. “I’m worried because the people involved don’t live too far from my house.”
Police officials have not yet identified the age of the injured child and their investigation is still active and ongoing. As of 8:30 p.m., eastbound Florida remained closed at Buena Vista Street while police officials conducted an investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident.
This is a developing story. Information will be updated as it becomes available.
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 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
Pingback: HEMET: Juvenile Injured After Crash on Florida Avenue at Buena Vista