MENIFEE: Teen dies in early-morning, head-on crash

MENIFEE – A teenager died in an early-morning, head-on traffic collision after he tried to pass slower moving traffic on Scott Road, east of Merrit Road, in Menifee, according to California Highway Patrol officials. The deadly accident happened just after midnight, Tuesday, March 21.

Coroner’s officials later identified the victim as Peter Ely Sakr, 18, of Menifee. Sakr died about one hour after the accident, after being transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center in Murrieta with major neck, spine and leg injuries. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 1:09 a.m.

Emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the deadly wreck about 12:12 a.m., after multiple motorists called 911 to report the accident.

When they arrived, medical personnel found Sakr trapped inside the mangled wreckage of his vehicle, which CHP Officer Mike Lassig described as a 2004 Chevrolet Impala. Firefighters had to use the “Jaws of Life” to cut the teen from his destroyed vehicle.

Firefighter/paramedics provided medical aid to Sakr before American Medical response medics transported him to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where later died in the hospital’s Emergency Room.

During their preliminary investigation, CHP officials determined Sakr was traveling eastbound on Scott Road, near Merritt Road, when he “crossed over the solid, double-yellow lines and into the opposing traffic lane to pass slower moving traffic,” Lassig said in a written CHP report after the deadly accident.

When Sakr attempted to pass the slower moving traffic on the narrow, two-lane roadway, he smashed head-on into a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old Winchester resident who was headed westbound in the opposite direction.

The Winchester man, who was driving a 2012 F-350 pickup truck, was traveling about 45 mph at the time of the collision, according to Lassig.

Although the driver of the truck saw Sakr’s Impala coming directly towards him, he “was unable to respond or take evasive action,” Lassig explained.

Vehicle parts and debris were left strewn across the roadway after the wreck and forced the temporary closure of Scott Road in both directions.

The other diver was transported to Inland Valley Hospital in Wildomar. Lassig described the man’s injuries as minor.

“The CHP would like to remind all motorists to always wear your seat belt and never cross over double yellow lines,” Lassig said after the fatal crash, which is still under investigation.

 

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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.