UPDATED: PERRIS: DUI and excessive speed suspected in solo-vehicle wreck that killed Moreno Valley man
UPDATE: April 10, 3 p.m. (See original story below.)
Officials are attributing the wreck to excessive speed and driving under the influence. William Hayes photo
PERRIS – Coroner officials have identified a man who died after the driver lost control of his speeding car and smashed broadside into a traffic signal pole Saturday, April 8.
The wreck, which one official called a “violent and unnecessary traffic collision fatality,” happened at the intersection of Indian Avenue and Markham Street in Perris.
The deadly accident, which officials have attributed to driving while under the influence and excessive speed, resulted in the death of the vehicle’s driver and sole occupant, who was later identified by coroner officials as Shawn Thompson, 35, of Moreno Valley.
After firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the mortally injured driver from his destroyed car, medics rushed the victim to the trauma center at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley for further evaluation and treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Thompson was pronounced dead at 9:04 p.m., just over two hours after the deadly collision.
Vehicle parts, debris and personal items were strewn across the roadway after the accident. William Hayes photo
Emergency first responders were dispatched to the major injury traffic accident about 4:48 p.m., after 911 callers reported the vehicle versus pole accident.
Callers reported to emergency dispatchers that the driver was badly injured and trapped inside their destroyed car, which was barely recognizable after the high-speed collision.
The wreck left vehicle parts, debris and personal items strewn throughout the intersection and across the entire roadway.
When Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters arrived at the scene of the wreck, they found a white sedan that had sustained major damage and was wrapped around the traffic signal pole it collided into. A utility junction box was also destroyed in the accident.
Firefighters at the scene reported Thompson was gravely injured and trapped inside the mangled wreckage of his car.
While firefighters worked to free the victim from his mangled car, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Police Station’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene of the fatal wreck and assumed the investigation.
Officials discuss the DUI-related fatal accident. William Hayes photo
“Further investigation indicated that the Nissan had been traveling northbound Indian Ave. at a high rate of speed,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant J.P. Strang said after the conclusion of the department’s initial investigation into the accident.
“The Nissan spun out of control, struck the raised concrete center median, continued across the opposing lanes of traffic, and collided into the traffic signal pole along the southbound lanes,” Strang explained.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on this investigation is encouraged to call Deputy Kiebach at the Perris Sheriff’s Station, (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE170980069 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
ORIGINAL STORY
Firefighters asses the damage to the victim’s destroyed car. William Hayes photo
PERRIS – A driver sustained major traumatic injuries after losing control of their vehicle Saturday, April 8. The out of control car smashed into a large, traffic signal pole at the intersection of Indian Avenue and Markham Street in Perris.
Emergency first responders were dispatched to the major injury traffic accident about 4:48 p.m., after 911 callers reported the vehicle versus pole accident.
Callers reported the driver was badly injured and trapped inside their destroyed car, which was barely recognizable after the collision.
Eleven firefighters from two engine companies and one truck company responded to the single-vehicle traffic accident, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.
When Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters arrived at the scene of the wreck, they found a white sedan that had sustained major damage and was wrapped around the power pole it collided into. A utility junction box was also destroyed in the accident.
Vehicle parts, debris and personal items were strewn throughout the intersection and across the entire roadway.
Deputies eventually closed the intersection to ensure the safety of emergency first responders. William Hayes photo
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was seriously injured and trapped inside their destroyed sedan. Firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to safely extricate the injured subject from the car.
While firefighters worked to free the trapped driver, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Station investigated the cause of the crash.
Perris PD Community Service Officers and station volunteers responded to the scene to handle road closures as well as crowd and traffic control.
After firefighters successfully pulled the victim from the mangled wreckage of their vehicle, AMR medics rushed the man to a local hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The victim’s injuries were listed as major and his condition was listed as serious.
The intersection was closed to through traffic for several hours while paramedics treated the injured driver, deputies conducted their investigation and the destroyed vehicle was removed from the area.
Firefighters had to use the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the mortally injured driver from his vehicle. William Hayes photo
City of Perris public works employees were summoned to the scene of the wreck to assess the damage to the pole that the out of control sedan had plowed into.
It was not known if drug and/or alcohol intoxication were contributing factors in the collision, pending toxicology reports.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to immediately contact Perris station deputies at (951) 210-1000. Callers can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor 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 and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with 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 and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
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.
Wow! I know that corner. Almost got into a few fender benders are selves. The other drivers don’t paition to busy on their phones or their kids running around in the car or fighting we each other. Or watching TV to busy talking to each other instead of the road see it all the time still do. People run the red lights and stop signs. The other day watched a person run a red light in front of a office and he didn’t do anything. The officer had a green light too. I see a lot of that too. To me that’s sending out the wrong message.
This made my heart sank I saw this yesterday!!!!