HEMET: Pedestrian struck while crossing busy Florida Ave
Florida Avenue quickly filled with emergency first responders after the vehicle versus pedestrian accident. Gary Rainwater/Hemet News photo
HEMET – A pedestrian was seriously injured when he was struck by a pickup truck while crossing a busy street during rush hour traffic Monday, Jan. 2. The vehicle versus pedestrian accident happened in the 1200 block of W. Florida Avenue between S. Elk Street and S. Hamilton Avenue in Hemet.
The accident was reported to City of Hemet emergency dispatchers about 6 p.m., by several witnesses who called 911 to report the incident. Callers told dispatchers the victim, described as a black male adult, was struck by a white GMC Sierra as he was crossing Florida Avenue.
Callers also told dispatchers the victim was down in the roadway, was not moving, and was not responding to witnesses trying to provide him with aid and comfort.
Hemet police and fire personnel and AMR medics were dispatched to the scene of the accident. Police officers arrived at the location within one minute of the call being dispatched and fire personnel began arriving moments later. Officers and other emergency first responders found the victim still down in the middle of the roadway.
Firefighter/paramedics treated the victim before AMR medics transported him to a local hospital. Gary Rainwater/Hemet News photo
Firefighter/paramedics evaluated and treated the victim before AMR medics transported him to a local area hospital. His condition was not immediately known.
Officers conducted a traffic investigation and determined the pedestrian, who was wearing dark clothing, including black pants and a black jacket, was not in a cross walk when he was struck by the truck and had been jaywalking at the time of the accident.
It was not known if the driver of the truck was cited for any violation; however, he reportedly told witnesses he had not been able to see the pedestrian due to the darkness and the victim’s dark clothing.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be updated as it becomes available.
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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.