BEAUMONT: Many questions remain after woman laying in roadway run over, killed

BEAUMONT – Many questions remain unanswered after an early-morning accident involving a woman who was run over while laying between the number one and two lanes of traffic on the northbound side of SR-79 – also known as Lamb Canyon Road – Monday, Dec. 12.

The fatal incident happened about 3:28 a.m., one mile south of California Road, between the cities of Beaumont and San Jacinto, according to CHP and Riverside County coroner’s officials.

Moments before the woman was run over another passing motorist saw her laying face up, between the fast lane and slow lane, according to CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer. Before the motorist could stop or help, the victim was run over by a northbound motorist who did not see the victim in time to take evasive action.

The victim, who had no identification on her and has only been identified as a Hispanic female, died at the scene. CHP officials do not yet know if the victim had been hit by another vehicle and left in the roadway or if there was another reason she was laying in the road.

According to Meyer, a 55-year-old Hemet resident was driving a 2006 Kia Spectra northbound on SR-79 when she ran over the victim. The motorist was not injured in the incident.

Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighter/paramedics and AMR medics responded the scene of the accident. The victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 3:47 a.m., according to a coroner’s release. 

“The identity of the female pedestrian remains unknown,” Meyer explained. “The circumstances as to why the woman was lying in the roadway remain under investigation.”

The northbound lanes of SR-79 were closed while officials conducted an accident investigation. Motorists were detoured to westbound Gilman Springs Road and westbound Ramona Expressway. The road was re-opened just before 6:30 a.m.  

Both CHP and Riverside County Sheriff’s officials are investigating the incident.  

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity of the victim is encouraged to contact CHP officials from the San Gorgonio area station at (951) 769-2000. Callers 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.