UPDATED: HEMET: DUI suspected in crash that killed San Jacinto man, victim ID’d

UPDATE: Thursday, Aug. 3, 1:45 p.m.

HEMET — Riverside County Sheriff – Coroner’s officials have identified the victim killed in last Friday’s fatal traffic collision as Gabriel Deniz, 52, of San Jacinto. A coroner’s release indicated Deniz died at the Riverside University Health Systems – Medical Center, just less than nine hours after he was involved in the accident. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff July 29, at 2:26 a.m.

 

During an accident investigation, CHP officials determined Deniz caused the accident when he pulled out in front of another vehicle that was being driven by a 51-year-old, desert Hot Springs resident.

Officials later determined Deniz was under the influence at the time of the collision. His intoxication was determined to have been a “significant factor” in the accident and his death, according to CHP officials.

The investigation is ongoing.

 

HEMET — A man died when his truck was struck broadside after he reportedly pulled out in front of another vehicle, Friday, July 28. The deadly wreck happened at the intersection of Lincoln and Mountain Avenues in an unincorporated area of Hemet.

According to CHP officials, the man who was killed was a 52-year-old, San Jacinto resident. Officials have stated the man, who has not been identified pending notification of his family, was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol when he caused the wreck that later resulted in his death.

CHP, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire and AMR personnel responded to the intersection about 5:23 p.m., after several other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the accident.

When they arrived, emergency first responders located two vehicles, described as a blue, 1995 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck and a 2010 Mercedes CLK.

After the accident, the driver of the truck was reportedly talking and joking with emergency first responders and only reported having minor complaints of pain in his torso and neck. He was transported by ground ambulance to Riverside University Health System – Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead by hospital staff about 2:30 a.m., the morning after the accident.

CHP investigated the cause of the deadly wreck and determined the victim was driving his 1995 Chevrolet S-10 eastbound on Lincoln Avenue when he stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Mountain Avenue.

At the same time, Jordan King, 51, of Desert Hot Springs, was driving his 2010 Mercedes CLK southbound on Mountain Avenue at about 50 miles per hour, according to CHP Officer Wellman, who investigated the fatal accident.

“As King approached the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, the driver of the Chevrolet pulled out into the intersection, directly into the path of the Mercedes,” said Wellman. “The front of the Mercedes collided with the left front of the Chevrolet.”

After the two vehicles collided, the momentum from the collision caused both vehicles to continue eastbound until they came to rest down a dirt, shoulder embankment.

King was not injured in the deadly wreck. He was offered but declined medical treatment at the scene.

Officials later determined Deniz caused the collision and was under the influence at the time of the collision. His intoxication was determined to have been a “significant factor” in the accident and his death.

The investigation is ongoing.

 

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.