UPDATED: ROMOLAND: Officials identify 72-year-old woman killed in collision
UPDATED: Saturday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m.
ROMOLAND — Officials have identified the driver who died in last Thursday’s accident that happened at the intersection of Antelope and Mapes Roads. The intersection where the accident occurred borders the city of Menifee and the unincorporated community of Romoland.
Numerous officials from multiple agencies responded to and assisted with the accident investigation. William Hayes photo
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified Irene Perez, 72, of Perris as the victim who perished in the crash. According to a Coroner’s release, Perez succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident about 15 minutes after the accident happened and she was pronounced dead by paramedics at 5:58 p.m.
One other person sustained minor injuries in the accident, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer explained in an earlier incident report.
Although officials have not yet made an official determination as to the cause of the deadly accident, during their investigation, CHP officials determined the Dodge struck Perez’ Buick broadside as it crossed the intersection.
After interviewing the other driver and several witnesses, officials learned Perez was driving westbound on Mapes Road approaching a two-way stop sign at the intersection of Antelope Road.
The other vehicle, which was occupied by three adults, was being driven northbound on Antelope approaching the intersection of Mapes Road. The driver of the pickup truck did not have a stop sign at the intersection and had the right of way.
For an unknown reason Perez pulled out in front the path of the oncoming Dodge, causing the deadly accident. The driver of the Dodge, who has not been identified, was not able to stop in time and the truck plowed into the driver’s side of the Buick, killing Perez.
The full cause of the collision is still under investigation and neither the Sheriff’s Department nor CHP have released any information about the deadly accident.
ROMOLAND — A Perris woman died in a two-vehicle, traffic collision Thursday, Aug. 10. The fatal accident happened at the intersection of Antelope and Mapes Roads. At the intersection where the accident occurred, Mapes Road borders the city of Menifee and the unincorporated community of Romoland.
A CHP officer speaks with the driver and passengers from a Dodge truck that was involved in the fatal crash. William Hayes photo
Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters, California Highway Patrol officers, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident at 5:47 p.m., when Riverside County and CHP emergency dispatchers received several calls regarding the deadly collision.
When the arrived, officials found a blue Dodge pickup truck and a gold Buick Century that had collided in the intersection. Vehicle parts and debris was strewn across the roadway and the lanes of travel were blocked in all directions.
The Dodge, which sustained moderate front-end damage in the crash, was in the middle of the roadway and the Buick, which was heavily damaged on the driver’s side, was found off the roadway on north side of the dirt shoulder.
Officials quickly determined the driver of the Buick was trapped inside the mangled wreckage of her car and required extrication from her destroyed vehicle.
Firefighter/paramedics immediately began the extrication process, using the “Jaws of Life” to cut the critically injured victim from her vehicle. In spite of medical intervention and life-saving efforts, the driver of the Buick succumbed to her injuries and she died at the scene of the accident.
The victim who perished at the scene has not been identified, pending notification of her family.
A fire official uses the “Jaws of Life” to extricate a 72-year-old woman, who later died at the scene of the crash. William Hayes photo
One other person sustained minor injuries in the accident, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Jody Hagemann explained in an incident report.
While firefighters worked to free the victim from her vehicle, CHP and sheriff’s officials investigated the cause of the deadly crash. Because the accident happened on the border of the city of Menifee and the unincorporated community of Romoland it was not immediately known which agency was investigating the fatal collision.
During their investigation, officials determined the driver of the Buick was traveling westbound on Mapes Road, approaching a two-way stop sign at the intersection of Antelope Road.
The other vehicle, which was occupied by three men, was traveling northbound on Antelope approaching the intersection of Mapes Road. The driver of the truck did not have a stop sign at the intersection and had the right of way.
It was not immediately known if the driver of the Buick stopped for the posted stop sign at the intersection; however, for an unknown reason the woman pulled out in front the path of the oncoming Dodge.
A sheriff’s official assists with the fatal traffic collision investigation. William Hayes photo
As the Buick crossed the intersection, the driver of the Dodge, who has not been identified, was not able to stop in time and the truck plowed into the driver’s side of the Buick, killing the driver.
While law enforcement officials investigated the cause of the deadly accident, they called for the temporary closure of both Antelope and Mapes Roads. Both roads were later re-opened, after officials concluded their initial investigation and the damaged vehicles were removed from the scene of the wreck.
The driver of the Dodge truck was reportedly cooperating with investigating officers.
Officials have not ruled out speeding, alcohol and/or drugs as contributing factors in the collision.
The full cause of the accident is still under investigation and neither the Sheriff’s Department nor CHP have released any information about the deadly accident.
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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 13 – soon to be 14 – grandchildren.
So sad!