WHITEWATER: Teen involved in solo-vehicle crash, killed when struck by big-rig driven by Murrieta resident

WHITEWATER — California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the cause of a deadly wreck involving a sedan, big-rig and a third car. The fatal accident happened yesterday evening, Thursday, Sept. 7.

The crash was reported on Interstate 10, just east of the Interstate 111 overpass bridge, in the unincorporated community of Whitewater, according to CHP and Coroner’s officials.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified 18-year-old, Daisy Diaz Gomez, of Thousand Palms, as the victim killed in yesterday’s wreck. According to Coroner officials, Gomez died about twenty-five minutes after the fatal wreck and listed her time of death as 9:53 p.m.

Gomez died after her vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle accident and then struck about two minutes later by a Target stores, big-rig driven by 46-year-old, Murrieta resident, Carnel Jackson.

After Jackson’s big-rig plowed into Gomez’ disabled car, her vehicle was thrown into a third vehicle, which was parked on the side of the freeway and occupied by 19-year-old, Twentynine Palms resident, Jordan Wilcox.

According to Wilcox, she had witnessed the initial crash and pulled over to call 911 to report the crash when the second and then third collisions happened.

CHP officers, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters, and other emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the fatal accident about 9:28 p.m., after numerous other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the collision.

First arriving fire and police officials found a chaotic scene, with vehicle parts and debris strewn across the entire roadway with some lanes blocked by wrecked vehicles and debris.

Despite Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire paramedics’ efforts, Gomez succumbed to her injuries and she died at the scene, according to CHP Spokesperson Officer Darren Meyer

In an incident report, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman confirmed the collision resulted in one fatality and referred all other questions to CHP.

While Cal Fire paramedics and AMR medics tended to those injured in the crash, CHP officials investigated the cause of the deadly wreck.

During their investigation, officials determined Gomez was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 in the number two lane of traffic when her 2012 Toyota Corolla suddenly swerved to the left and smashed into the center median guard rail, Meyer explained after the deadly wreck.

After Gomez’ vehicle slammed into the guard rail, her car “bounced back into the eastbound lanes of I-10 and came to rest in the number three lane,” said Meyer.

About two minutes later, while Gomez was still inside her vehicle, a white, International, tractor/trailer combination driven by Jackson, “came upon the disabled Corolla” in the lanes of traffic.

Unable to stop or swerve in time, “the International collided with the rear of the Corolla,” Meyer explained.

It was not immediately known if Gomez was conscious when the second collision occurred.

“The impact caused the Corolla to be pushed in a southerly direction” where it smashed into the driver’s side of a third vehicle stopped on the right shoulder of eastbound I-10, said Meyer. The third, parked vehicle, a grey, 2014 Hyundai Sonata was occupied by Wilcox when Gomez’ vehicle hit his.

After being struck by the big-rig and launched in the stopped Hyundai, the Corolla continued in a “southerly direction, off of the roadway and came to rest on its wheels in a dirt field,” Meyer explained.

Wilcox complained of minor injuries and American Medical Response medics transported her to Desert Regional Medical Center.

Jackson was evaluated and treated at the scene and declined further medical treatment.

Alcohol and/or drug intoxication have not been ruled out as possible contributing factors in the deadly collision, which is being investigated by CHP Officer Gonzalez. His investigation is active and ongoing.

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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.