UPDATED: SAGE: DUI suspected in fatal Sage Road head-on collision
UPDATE: 12/05/2016 5:38 p.m.
Dawn Murphy, 46, of Hemet, was killed in this morning’s fatal, DUI-related, head-on traffic collision. Randy Landeros photo
SAGE – California Highway Patrol officials concluded their initial investigation into this morning’s fatal traffic collision and provided additional details about the deadly accident.
Investigating officers determined that drug and/or alcohol intoxication were contributing factor(s) in this collision, according to CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer.
During their investigation officers determined Tracie Bell, 53, of Riverside was driving a brown, 2009, Scion XB northbound on Sage Road just south of Selgado Canyon Road. Officers believe Bell was intoxicated at the time of the collision.
Authorities have not specified what they believe Bell was under the influence of, pending toxicology results.
The other driver, who was later identified by coroner officials as Dawn Murphy, 46, of Hemet, was driving a silver, 2015, Nissan Versa in the opposite direction, southbound on Sage Road.
According to Meyer, Bell allowed her vehicle to drift into the southbound lane, directly into the path of the Nissan that Murphy was traveling in.
The vehicles collided head-on. The impact of the collision caused major damage to both vehicles.
Murphy was left trapped inside her vehicle after the collision. Firefighters had to extricate her from the mangled wreckage of her car. She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. A coroner’s release listed her time of death as 7:29 a.m.
Both vehicles involved in this morning’s collision sustained major damage. Randy Landeros photo
“Bell sustained significant injuries and was transported by AMR to Inland Valley Hospital,” Meyer explained. “There were no passengers in either vehicle.”
Sage Road was closed in both directions for about two hours while officers conducted their investigation and collected evidence related to the fatal DUI-related collision.
CHP officials are continuing their investigation into the early-morning collision.
According to Meyer, after CHP officers have concluded their investigation, their findings will be forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for possible charges to be filed against Bell.
Officials have requested that anyone who has information about the incident or who witnessed the deadly collision to contact CHP Officer Eagleman at the CHP’s San Gorgonio area station at (951) 769-2000. Callers can refer to incident file number 161205IC00062 and can remain anonymous.
ORIGINAL STORY
SAGE – At least one person was killed in a two-vehicle, head-on collision on Sage Road near Minto Way Monday, Dec. 5. The area where the accident occurred is just south of the City of Hemet. The fatal wreck was reported to California Highway Patrol officials at 7:12 a.m., according to a CHP official.
CHP officers from the San Gorgonio and Temecula area stations and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the deadly crash after multiple 911 callers reported the accident to CHP emergency dispatchers. According to a CHP incident log, the vehicles were described as a silver Nissan Versa and a maroon Scion XB.
Witnesses told dispatchers the two vehicles were left blocking the roadway after the accident and that one of the vehicles was smoking.
13 firefighters from three engine companies responded to the scene, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman. They were assisted by a medic squad.
When they arrived at the scene, firefighter/paramedics, CHP officials, and AMR medics discovered the mangled wreckage of the two vehicles.
The first arriving engine company reported finding two victims trapped. Both victims required extrication from their vehicles.
CHP officials called for the temporary closure of Sage Road to ensure the safety of firefighters and other emergency first responders, according to CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer.
One victim was successfully extricated from their vehicle, however the person sustained major traumatic injuries in the accident.
Firefighter/paramedics treated the victim at the scene before AMR medics transported the subject to a local hospital by ground ambulance. Two firefighter/paramedics went with the victim on the ambulance. The subject’s condition was listed as serious, according to Newman.
The other victim succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene about 7:36 a.m.
Neither victim has been identified.
At 7:53 a.m., CHP officials requested a fixed-wing aerial unit to respond to the location to take overhead photographs at the scene of the deadly collision.
Sage Road was re-opened after the vehicles were cleared from the roadway, according to Meyer.
CHP officials are conducting an accident investigation and have not released the cause of the accident. Meyer explained a press release with further information would be released later Monday.
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.
Well, isn’t that always the way?
The drunk driver survives, and the innocent motorist succumbs to their injuries.
I was just going to say the same thing. Not that I would want anyone to die, it is always the drunk that lives. So sad.
The victim was a childhood friend of mine. It is absolutely terrible how people can get high and drink and then go driving on the freeway.
Sorry for the loss of Dawn Murphy however Tracie Bell is a sweet loving mother and grandmother who obviously made a mistake. She is incredibly sorry for the accident and is in critical condition herself on a ventilator.
Krissy.. “Sorry for the loss however…” ?!
You must be joking. The wrong person died. You will get NO sympathy here. You should be ashamed of yourself leaving that ignorant comment here for Dawn’s family to read. Oh boo hoo she is in critical, she KILLED an innocent woman. She is a disgusting murderer.
My sentiments exactly. Disgusting.
After spending time in hospital with Tracie (i shared a room with her) I was amazed she had/has no remorse for what she did!!!.
All she cared about was “itching” her leg in her cast and constantly do negative things to get attention!
She blew my mind when she told me that she doesn’t do meth(which was one of the 3 substances she was intoxicated with)… of course tho…HER TOXICOLOGY REPORT HAS PROVEN OTHER WISE..
Needs to be put away and throw the key away. She took an innocent life and robbed her children of growing up with their mother. This is not her first rodeo but it needs to be her last. If she was put away a long time ago for her dui’s this would have never happened and Dawn would be here today with her family.
Nunna.. Wow. While that is extremely disappointing to hear, i am not the least bit surprised.
If that were me (God forbid i ever selfishly chose to drive drunk) i would be crying day and night plus probably suicidal knowing i killed an innocent loved mother, daughter, sister, friend, good person, etc. The guilt would be devastating.
Yet she is sitting in hospital crying about being itchy from her cast.
That is one sick individual. She deserves to be in prison for life just like most murderers get.
I also agree with the person who said 1st dui is an accident. Anything after that is a CHOICE! Murderer!!!!
Nunna, have you taken this information as to what you witnessed in the hospital to law enforcement or the DA?
This wasn’t her first accident causing injury to others.
What has happened to Dawn is vehicular homicide and not just some one time DUI, manslaughter or lesser thing.
Tracy having More than one DUI resulting in accidents with injuries and now a death is habitual.
If she isn’t convicted of vehicular homicide and the DA takes a plea to just get this case over,or says they want to save tax payers from paying for a long expensive trial, it’s not justice for the family and to the potential dozens of other people Tracy bell will be unleashed on the roads in the future.
The People of that area should be allowed to choose whether they do or do not want to pay for a long trial. The public should be informed they have a say in this and a choice..
Its happened two times resulting in injuries and a death, how many more humans should Tracy be allowed to harm or kill..
My prayers and thoughts go out to the victims family. 4 years ago my husband, 4 year old son and myself were hit head-on by a young man who had been drinking and smoking pot. By the grace of God we survived, however we still have the physical and mental scars that affect us everyday. I HAVE NO PITY for this “sweet loving mother..” who made the decision to drink and/or do drugs and get behind the wheel of a car and put so many other people’s lives at risk.
I can’t agree more. Too many people assume they can drive when they have no business driving
I still don’t understand how that women was allowed a license since its not her first injury to another due to dui.
Or maybe she was driving on,suspended.
No way would her family allow gramma to drive those grandkids knowing what she has done and still refer to her as a good mother and grandmother. I can’t imagine how.
Dawn was a childhood friend as well. She leaves 5 children and her husband. Please read more here. https://www.youcaring.com/dawnmariemurphy-711466?fb_action_ids=10153547774574229&fb_action_types=youcaringcom%3Ashare&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B545998862191636%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22youcaringcom%3Ashare%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D
What is the condition of the driver who lived?
Did she get arrested for dui or what happened?
FYI. a mistake is once not several. Anyone that age with multiple DUIs,with injuries should already understand their actions and consequences of those actions.
This would be a different story had her grandchildren been in the vehicle.
Her poor husband and children. My prayers go out to her family .God bless and I pray they can heal.
To all of Dawns friends, you have the legal right to contact the DA who apparently isn’t prosecuting Tracy.
You can contact the DA and insist Tracy be charged with vehicular homicide due to her negligence.
You can call and or write the DA. calling daily as long as it’s not harassing , they cannot deny the citizens of your area or their concerns.
You can also contact media informing them how many times Tracy has harmed others through her habitual discontent for our laws and for human life.
You can write and call the CA. AG office complaining the DA is NOT doing their job.
You can file a complaint with CA AG office about what isn’t being done. It is your right as American citizens and resisdence of California.
Flooding the DAs office as to why Tracy isn’t in jail. Has she been arraigned for killing Dawn..
If not,,why not.
You all have a right to know …
Good luck and God Speed to all of Dawn’s friends and God bless Dawn’s family.
Do you know if Tracie Bell was charged/convicted for the Sage road accident in Hemet??
I know for a fact she’s not in jail where she should be!