RIVERSIDE: Pedestrian in critical condition after struck by Riverside PD patrol vehicle
RIVERSIDE — A pedestrian who was struck by an on-duty Riverside PD patrol vehicle sustained major injuries and was left in critical condition Thursday, Nov. 16. The early morning, pre-dawn accident happened on Van Buren Boulevard west of Wood Road, in Riverside.
SEE RELATED: PERRIS: 15-year-old girl killed when struck by sheriff’s patrol SUV identified
Riverside Police and Fire personnel responded to the scene of the accident about 5:30 a.m., after the officer involved in the collision radioed that he had just struck the pedestrian.
Officials have not released the name of the 25-year-old, Riverside resident who was struck by the patrol vehicle.
When firefighters and paramedics arrived they determined the victim had sustained major, traumatic injuries and American Medical Response medics transported him to Riverside Community Hospital. He was listed in critical but stable condition.
Based on the severity of the victim’s injuries, the Riverside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
During their investigation, officials determined the marked patrol vehicle was driving eastbound on Van Buren Boulevard approaching Wood Road when the victim stepped off the center divider and into the path of oncoming police vehicle.
Riverside Police Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a witness, the driver of a tan mini-van, which was seen traveling near the police vehicle at the time of the collision.
The major injury accident was one of two major, vehicle versus pedestrian collisions involving local law enforcement officers on Thursday.
The other accident resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl who died after she was struck by an on-duty patrol officer when she attempted to run across Perris Boulevard, north of Nuevo Road in Perris.
The victim, later identified as Leticia Ramirez, died after being rushed to an area hospital.
Anyone with information about the Riverside accident, who witnessed the collision or who knows the driver of the tan mini-van is encouraged to immediately contact Riverside Police Traffic Detective Brian Jones at (951) 826-8722 or by email. Callers can remain anonymous.
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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.