VALLE VISTA: Officials investigating possible double hit and run after car, tow truck hit pedestrian

VALLE VISTA — Authorities are currently investigating a possible hit and run, believed to involve a pedestrian and possibly two vehicles. The major-injury, hit and run collisions happened Monday evening, Aug. 28, along a dark section of Highway 74 near First Street in Valle Vista.

The same stretch of highway has been the site of several other recent, major-injury and fatal vehicle versus pedestrian accidents, some of which were also investigated as hit and runs.

SEE RELATED: VALLE VISTA: Woman, 80, who died after being hit by car on SR 74 ID’d

SEE RELATED: EAST HEMET: Pedestrian killed while crossing dark street

According to a CHP live incident log, at least two vehicles, which witnesses said both fled the scene, reportedly struck and/or ran over a pedestrian, who was left laying in the middle of the roadway. The victim suffered major injuries and was later airlifted to an area trauma center.

Multiple witnesses called 911 to report the hit and runs, some of whom described at least two vehicles involved, although the witnesses descriptions of he vehicles varied.

One of the vehicles was described as either a blue or silver, two-door Hyundai Santa Fe or Acura hatchback. The vehicle’s bumper was reportedly ripped of by the impact and radio traffic indicated the vehicle had been damaged and possibly abandoned somewhere in the area nearby.

The other vehicle that reportedly struck or ran over the pedestrian was described as either a big-rig or roll back-style, flatbed tow truck.

According to at least one witness, the silver or blue car struck the pedestrian first, before the big rig or tow truck ran over the victim.

California Highway Patrol officers, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the collisions at 9:09 p.m.

Nine firefighters from three engine companies responded to the accident, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman explained in an incident report.

“The first arriving engine company reported a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian,” said Newman. The victim had sustained major, traumatic injuries from the vehicle or vehicles that had hit them.

One of the first arriving CHP officials advised that evidence at the scene was spread along Highway 74 from the area of New Chicago Boulevard to where the victim was found in the roadway in the area of First Street, about one mile away.

Based on the severity of the victim’s injuries, paramedics at the scene requested a Mercy Air Ambulance respond to the location. At 10:12 p.m., almost exactly one hour after the accident was first reported, Newman updated that the air ambulance flew the victim to Riverside University Health Systems in Moreno Valley “with serious injuries.”

As their investigation into the hit and runs progressed, CHP officials notified all local law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for both vehicles believed to have been involved in the incident.

During their investigation into the hit and runs, CHP called for the temporary, partial closure of Highway 74 to ensure the safety of law enforcement and fire officials at the scene.

CHP’s investigation into the incident is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the incident is encouraged to immediately contact CHP officials from the San Gorgonio Pass Area Station at (951) 769-2000. Callers can remain anonymous.

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This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

 

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, The Valley Chronicle 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.