JURUPA VALLEY: 19-year-old Moreno Valley woman killed when vehicle drifts into oncoming traffic

JURUPA VALLEY — Officials are investigating a fatal, two-vehicle, traffic collision that happened Tuesday evening, Nov. 14. The deadly accident happened on Rubidoux Boulevard, about one-half mile north of Production Circle, in Jurupa Valley, according to sheriff and fire officials.

Members from the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Office later identified Esmeralda  Quintero, 19, of Moreno Valley, as the woman killed when her car reportedly drifted into oncoming traffic and plowed head-on into another vehicle.

She was pronounced dead at 9:26 p.m., about fifteen minutes after the accident was reported.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Jurupa Valley Police Station and Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters responded to the accident about 9:15 p.m., after other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the wreck, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Raemie Wood explained after the deadly accident.

When sheriff and fire officials arrived at the scene, they reported finding two vehicles that had crashed head-on. Firefighters reported finding two injured victims in the two vehicles, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman explained in an incident report.

Based on the severity of the accident, Jurupa Valley PD’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their preliminary investigation, deputies determined a vehicle traveling southbound on Rubidoux Boulevard “drifted into oncoming traffic, colliding with vehicles traveling northbound on Rubidoux Blvd,” said Wood.

Quintero, the sole occupant of the vehicle that drifted into oncoming traffic, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

One of the occupants from the other involved vehicle sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, according to officials.

The investigation is active and ongoing, but alcohol and/or drug impairment did not appear to be contributing factors in the collision, according to Harding.

Anyone with additional information related to this investigation or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Robles at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number JV173180196 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

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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.