HEMET: Suspected drunk driver smashes into car, destroys light pole
HEMET — A suspected drunk driver who was driving with a suspended license was taken into custody after he smashed into the rear-end of another vehicle in an early-morning, two vehicle wreck Wednesday, May 31. The accident, that sent a second car careening into a concrete light pole, happened on Florida Avenue east of Elk Street in Hemet.
Firefighters and officers had to wait until downed power lines that were laying in the water from a broken water line were de-energized. Miguel Shannon photo
City of Hemet Police and Fire Departments and AMR medics responded to the scene of the crash about 2:34 a.m., after several people called 911 to report the accident.
When they arrived, officials found two sedans with major damage. The destroyed silver Ford Fusion that caused the accident was in the middle of the roadway and the other car – a black Ford Fusion that the silver sedan struck – had left the roadway, where it first struck the concrete light pole.
After being struck from behind, the second vehicle was launched into the pole. The impact knocked the pole down, shattering it into pieces that were littered across the roadway and the sidewalk area where the second vehicle came to rest.
To make the situation more dangerous, officers reported that power lines had been knocked down and were in the water that was spraying from a damaged water line. Officials were summoned to the scene to shut own power to the down wires.
Because vehicle parts and pole debris were strewn across the roadway, officers immediately called for the temporary closure of all eastbound traffic on Florida Avenue, to allow medical personnel to work safely.
The driver who caused the rear-end collision was suspected of being under the influence. Miguel Shannon photo
Firefighter/paramedics evaluated and treated at least two people who were in the black sedan when it was struck from behind. They declined further treatment at the scene.
During their investigation, officers determined the driver who caused the rear-end crash was possibly under the influence.
The suspected drunk driver was handcuffed and taken to the Hemet Police Station where a blood nurse was waiting to draw blood for toxicology tests to determine the man’s level of intoxication.
It was not immediately known if the driver who caused the accident was determined to be under the influence or if he was arrested.
Florida Avenue remained closed until officers concluded their investigation and the destroyed vehicles were towed from the scene
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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.