UPDATE: HEMET: Man who killed Menifee resident was drunk, traveling over 100 mph, say officials
UPDATED: Tuesday, Sept. 4, 10 p.m.
Officers arrested Augustin Jimenez for DUI related charges after he allegedly struck another vehicle while traveling more than 100 mph while intoxicated.
HEMET — Authorities investigating a fatal, multiple-vehicle, traffic collision that happened Thursday, Aug 31, at about 7 p.m., announced the arrest of the driver who caused the DUI-related crash.
Hemet police officials arrested Augustin Perala Jimenez, 48, of Hemet, Sunday, Sept. 3. He was arrested about 7 p.m., as he was being released from a local hospital, according to police officials.
After he was arrested, Jimenez was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, causing injury, Hemet Police Lt. Eric Dickson explained in a follow-up to an earlier press release.
Hemet PD traffic investigators determined Jimenez was driving a Chevrolet truck westbound on Domenigoni Parkway, approaching a red light at Sanderson Avenue.
According to Dickson, the intoxicated driver was travelling at over 100 mph as he approached the intersection and smashed into the back of a Toyota Prius that was stopped for the red light at Sanderson Avenue.
“The driver of the Toyota was severely injured and transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” Dickson explained.
Evidence recovered by officials at the scene, including numerous empty beer cans that were spread through the intersection and down Domenigoni Parkway and led directly to Jimenez’ truck, combined with the initial investigation, “revealed Jimenez was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision,” aid Dickson.
SEE RELATED: HEMET: DUI suspected in Domenigoni Pkwy crash that killed Menifee man (With photos and videos from scene)
Augustin Jimenez’ Chevy truck was heavily damaged when he plowed into the back of another vehicle. He was traveling more than 100 mph and intoxicated at the time of the collision, said officials. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo
Jimenez, who was also injured in the collision, was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of his injuries.
Because Jimenez was considered a “flight risk” due to the charges he was facing and other unspecified reasons, officials sought and obtained a bail enhancement and posted officers at his hospital room to ensure he did not attempt to flee the country.
He was arrested immediately upon his release from the hospital and booked in jail, according to Dickson.
An online jail records search indicated Jimenez remains in custody, held on $500,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at an unspecified court, Sept. 7.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified 51-year-old, Menifee resident, Jose Manahan as the victim killed in the accident that one official at the scene the evening of the crash called “tragic and completely, one hundred percent unnecessary and avoidable.”
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John Strangis video
Miguel Shannon/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, 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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 27 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 14 grandchildren.
HI! This is Feli Manahan – Miras, the sister of the victim. We are all in pain and hurting of what happened to my brother. I just wish it was just a minor accident but if he was not in a fast speed, my brother have survived. Just to let you know, my brother was a good man. In fact, the overwhelming sympathies and words from those lives he has touched, would speak on how he was good to everyone. He spread the word of the Lord through praises and songs all over California. One life has been wasted because of the irresponsibility of one man. My sister in law and their children are really hurting. We just hope that justice will prevail and sentence will be served. God bless us all.
Our condolences and prayers on the passing on of
+JOSE MANAHAN
+He will be included in our
Family 9-Day Prayers for Dear Departed
May +Jose live in the joy of our Lord Jesus and Mama Mary
Sorry for your loss in such a senseless act.