HEMET: Hemet resident killed after vehicle smashes into power pole ID’d
Numerous emergency first responders were dispatched to the fatal accident. John Strangis photo
HEMET – A Hemet resident was killed in an accident that was reported to Hemet police emergency dispatchers just before midnight, Wednesday, Nov. 23. The fatal accident happened on Simpson Road east of California Avenue in Hemet. The location where the accident occurred borders the unincorporated community of Winchester.
Coroner’s officials later identified the victim killed in the accident as Jesus Navarrette, 34, of Hemet. A coroner’s release indicated Navarrette was fatally injured at 11:34 p.m. He died about 15 minutes later while still trapped inside his mangled vehicle at 11:47 p.m. The exact location of Navarrette’s deadly accident was determined to be on Simpson Road, 667 feet east of California Avenue in Hemet.
Police and fire officials inspect the wreckage of the Cadillac. John Strangis photo
The accident was initially reported to CHP officials at 11:37 p.m. 911 callers reported a vehicle, described as a black Cadillac CTS, had smashed into a power pole and was reportedly split in half.
Witnesses were not able to approach the vehicle due to power lines down in the roadway that were live and sparking. Vehicle parts and debris were left strewn about the roadway and were blocking both directions of travel on Simpson Road.
According to a California Highway Patrol incident log and on-scene personnel, by the time emergency first responders arrived at the accident scene, Navarrette had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
AMR medics responded to the accident, however they were sent away when the sole-occupant was determined to have died at the scene. John Strangis photo
Hemet police officers arrived at the scene four minutes after the call was reported to City of Hemet emergency dispatchers. Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and AMR medics were already on scene when officers arrived. Firefighter/paramedics had already confirmed one fatality related to the accident.
First arriving officers reported the accident happened near an Eastern Municipal Water District facility located on the north side of Simpson Road, just east of California Avenue. Officers also reported that debris from the wreck was on EMWD property.
Officers immediately called for the full closure of Simpson Road. Motorists were diverted away from the scene of the fatal accident to ensure the safety of emergency first responders.
A Hemet police official cordons off the area of the deadly collision. John Strangis photo
Southern California Edison was called to the scene to de-energize the downed power lines and assess the damaged power pole, which caused power outages throughout the area.
The cause of the deadly collision is unknown at this time and is being investigated by Hemet police officials. Alcohol and/or drug intoxication had not been ruled out as contributing factors in the accident, pending toxicology reports.
Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the fatal collision should contact Hemet police officials at (961) 765-2400.
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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.
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.