UPDATED: WINCHESTER: Victim killed in early morning crash ID’d
UPDATE: Saturday, Oct. 7, 1:45 p.m.
Numerous emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the deadly crash. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
WINCHESTER — Officials have identified a woman killed when her car was struck broadside after officials say she failed to yield to another vehicle. The fatal crash happened at the intersection of Simpson Road and Whittier Avenue in the unincorporated community of Winchester.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified the victim as Almira Arrellanes, 30, of Perris. Arrellanes died at the scene of the collision about twenty minutes after the deadly accident. Officials pronounced her deceased at 6:30 a.m.
WINCHESTER — A 30-year-old, Perris resident died when her car was hit broadside by an oncoming sedan Thursday, Oct. 5. The deadly, early morning crash happened at the intersection of Simpson Road and Whittier Avenue in the unincorporated community of Winchester. The intersection is east of Highway 79 and north of Domenigoni Parkway.
A 30-year-old woman was killed when she pulled out in front of another vehicle at the intersection of Simpson Road and Whittier Avenue in Winchester, Oct. 5. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire officials responded to the scene of the deadly collision about 6:10 a.m., CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer explained in a press release.
Fourteen firefighters from two engine companies and one truck company responded to the deadly accident, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Spokeswoman April Newman said in an incident report.
Due to fuel and other fluids that spilled from the wrecked vehicles, the department’s Hazardous Materials Team assisted firefighters.
“The first arriving engine company reported a two vehicle traffic collision, with major damage to one vehicle,”said Newman. The two cars involved in the crash ended up on the dirt shoulder at the intersection.
Fire officials at the scene quickly determined one of the two victims had sustained major, traumatic injuries to her left side and she was trapped inside the mangled wreckage of her car and determined they would need to perform a cut and rescue operation to free the woman from her vehicle.
Firefighters called for additional resources and personnel and used the “Jaws of Life” to begin the extrication process to free the critically injured victim from her car.
In spite of their efforts, the woman succumbed to her injuries and officials pronounced her dead at the scene.
Officials discuss the deadly accident. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
According to an official at the scene, the victim lived just a few blocks away from the fatal accident. Officials have not yet released the woman’s name, pending further investigation and notification of the victim’s family.
“A second patient was evaluated by paramedics on scene and declined further treatment,” said Newman.
While fire and rescue officials worked on the two victims, CHP officers investigated the cause of the fatal crash.
During their investigation, officers determined the victim was driving a 1992 Toyota Camry northbound on Whittier Avenue approaching the intersection of Simpson Road just before the accident happened.
At the same time, Francis Brohamer, a 43-year-old man from Murrieta was driving a 2010 Honda Accord eastbound on Simpson Road approaching the same intersection.
“The driver of the Camry failed to yield to the approaching vehicle and drove directly into the path of the Accord,” Meyer explained.
CHP Officer Osteen explained from the scene the driver of the Toyota was struck as she continued northbound on Whittier Avenue, crossing Simpson Road at about 15 mph.
Both sedans sustained major damage in the broadside collision that killed one driver. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
When the Toyota driver pulled out in front of the Honda, the driver was not able to stop in time and the front of the Honda smashed into the driver’s side of the Camry.” The collision caused major damage to both vehicles.
“The impact of the collision caused fatal injuries to the 30-year-old driver and she was pronounced deceased at the scene by fire department paramedics,” said Meyer.
Both alcohol and drug intoxication have been ruled out as conributing factors in the fatal collision, according to officials.
During their investigation, officials called for the temporary closure of westbound Simpson Road and rush-hour morning traffic was diverted away from the scene of the accident. Traffic was later allowed to continue westbound as officials investigated the crash.
The cause of the investigation is active and ongoing.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, 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 as well as 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.