HIGHGROVE: Solo-vehicle, rollover accident on I-215 Freeway snarls evening commuters
HIGHGROVE – Several people suffered minor injuries in a single-vehicle, rollover traffic accident Monday evening, April 10. The over-turned vehicle, which left three of four lanes on the southbound I-215 Freeway blocked. The location where the accident happened just north of Center Street and is less than two miles north of the 91/60/215 interchange in Riverside.
Freeway Service Patrol members, who were first on scene of the rllover accident, work to quickly clear the over-turned vehicle. William Hayes photo
The accident left many evening commuters frustrated, as motorists slowly worked their way past the accident scene in the only lane left open after the accident. (See attached video below.)
California Highway Patrol officers, Freeway Service Patrol members, fire personnel and other emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the accident just after 6 p.m., after numerous other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the rollover wreck.
Riverside County Freeway Service Patrol officials were the first to arrive at the scene and they immediately began assisting the victims and preparing to clear the wrecked vehicle, described as a white, Dodge Challenger from the roadway.
By the time FSP employees managed to right the over-turned vehicle, southbound traffic had backed up for several miles.
The accident also affected traffic northbound traffic on the freeway, as motorists slowed to see all the activity on the southbound side of the freeway.
firefighters leave the scene after the victims from the car were evaluated and declined further medical treatment. William Hayes photo
FSP personnel members worked quickly to upright the vehicle back onto its wheels as firefighters began arriving and before the arrival of CHP officers.
They were able to get the three blocked lanes cleared after they righted the car back onto its wheels.
The vehicle sustained moderate damage in the accident.
Once the wrecked Challenger was back on its wheels, FSP workers moved the damaged vehicle to the side of the roadway, helping to minimizing the impact on rush hour traffic.
When American Medical Response medics arrived they began evaluating and treating four victims from the wrecked car.
According to witnesses at he scene, all four escaped with only minor injuries and declined further medical treatment.
CHP officers are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the rollover accident.
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William Hayes/Epicenter News video
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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.