UPDATED: SAN JACINTO: Two killed, two seriously injured, in Ramona Expressway head-on wreck

UPDATED: Friday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m.

SAN JACINTO — Officials have provided additional details regarding a major-injury, two-vehicle, head-on collision that resulted in the deaths of two drivers, Thursday, Nov. 16. Two other people sustained serious injuries in the accident that happened on Ramona Expressway, west of Warren Road, just outside the city of San Jacinto.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified one of the two drivers killed in the accident as Jonathon Wright, 24, of San Jacinto.

According to family and friends, Wright was on his way to work when the accident happened. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel about at 4:46 p.m., approximately twenty minutes after the accident was reported.

The other man killed in the collision has only been identified as a 23-year-old, San Bernardino resident, who died after being transported to Riverside University Health Systems for further evaluation and treatment. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 5:25 p.m., approximately two hours after the deadly collision.

The man’s name has not been publicly released, pending notification of his family.

California Highway Patrol officers investigated the cause of the double-fatal accident.

During their investigation, officers determined the unidentified man was driving a 2007 Toyota Camry eastbound on Ramona Expressway just before the accident happened. Wright was traveling westbound on Ramona Expressway in a 2010 Toyota Scion.

“For reasons yet to be determined, the driver of the Camry swerved left, across double yellow lines and directly into the front of the Scion,” CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer explained after the collision.

Both sedans had passengers in the right front seat of the two cars and both sustained serious injuries.

CHP’s investigation into the double-fatal accident is active and ongoing.

Correction: An earlier version of this update incorrectly listed Jonathon Wright as the driver of the Toyota Camry that caused this collision. My deepest apologies to both grieving families. -TM

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

 

SAN JACINTO — Details are still emerging, but officials are investigating a fatal, head-on collision involving at least two cars that occurred earlier this afternoon, Thursday, Nov. 16. The deadly accident happened on Ramona Expressway, between Bridge Street and N. Warren Road, along the northeastern border of San Jacinto.

California Highway Patrol officers, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the fatal wreck about 4:30 p.m., after multiple other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the crash.

Callers advised one of the vehicles involved in the fatal collision was a silver or grey sedan and a black or dark-colored sedan.

Twelve firefighters from three engine companies responded to the collision, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer April Newman explained in an incident report. They were assisted by a paramedic squad.

When officials arrived they found the mangled wreckage of two vehicles on Ramona Expressway just west of Warren Road. Officials also found vehicle parts and debris were scattered across the roadway blocking several lanes of traffic.

“Firefighters arrived on scene of a two-car traffic collision with four patients,” said Newman. “One patient perished at the scene.”

According to a CHP incident log, officers requested the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office respond to the location at about 4:45 p.m., approximately fifteen minutes after the accident was reported.

Because the location of the crash was on the border of San Jacinto and unincorporated County areas, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies were requested to the scene to assist with the collision investigation.

Officials eventually called for the temporary, full closure of Ramona Expressway between Bridge Street and N. Warren Road while emergency medical personnel helped the victims and officers investigated the cause of the collision.

American Medical Response eventually transported three victims by ground ambulances to area hospitals. Newman described their injuries as serious.

As of 7 p.m., officials were still investigating the cause of the deadly crash and the roadway remained blocked; frustrating rush-hour commuters who found themselves stuck in a traffic jam that was reportedly backed up for several miles heading into the San Jacinto Valley.

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

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.