UPDATED: Differing accounts emerging in rollover, DUI-related crash that killed Lakeside woman

UPDATED: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 3:10 a.m. (See original report below.)

Writer’s note: This is still a developing story. I am in the process of preparing an update including as many witness statements as I can obtain. Anyone with first-hand knowledge regarding the incident(s) that led to the fatal crash is encouraged to contact me via email. -TM

LAKE ELSINORE — Conflicting and varying accounts are emerging as possible contributing factors in a collision that killed a woman who died after she was ejected from an overturning vehicle that was struck broadside outside a Lake Elsinore bar just one minute after midnight, Jan. 1.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified Pamela Draper, 59, of Lakeside, as the victim killed in the collision. According to a coroner’s release, Draper succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the crash and was pronounced dead by paramedics at 12:32 a.m.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the deadly crash at 12:02 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant James Woodland explained the day after the accident.

When officials arrived at the scene they found the mangled wrecks of two vehicles, described as a dark-colored, Jeep Grand Cherokee and a silver, Dodge Charger. Vehicle parts, debris and various personal items were strewn more than two hundred feet along Riverside Drive and both directions of travel were obstructed.

“A Dodge Charger traveling eastbound on Riverside Drive collided broadside with a Jeep Cherokee, which had been traveling northbound on Joy Street,” Woodland explained. “The front-passenger of the Jeep Cherokee was ejected by the force of the collision and pronounced deceased at the scene.”

While firefighter/paramedics treated the four victims injured in the crash, members of Lake Elsinore PD’s Traffic Unit investigated the cause of the fatal collision.

During their investigation deputies interviewed a number of witnesses, some of whom were interviewed by media the morning of the accident. Others have also begun to come forward to share what they saw in the minutes before the accident.

Some of the witnesses described verbal altercations or a physical fight both inside and outside the Riverside Bar over the suspected theft of money that somehow involved the driver of the Jeep.

Some claimed the Jeep driver was a victim of the theft, while others claimed it was the Jeep driver who had been accused of stealing the money, described as a $20 bill.

Some claim the Jeep driver was fleeing from the bar “in fear for his life,” after being assaulted, while other witnesses claim the driver had been showing off and driving recklessly.

Other witnesses described seeing and/or hearing a verbal altercation between the driver and a woman that happened mere moments before the deadly crash.

Adding to the confusion was the fact that the incident began inside the bar just as the NYE Midnight Ball was dropping, which was being viewed on multiple televisions inside the establishment and was the primary focus of those at the business.

The sheriff’s investigation into the crash is continuing and officials are still requesting potential witnesses to step forward. As such, officials are sharing little regarding the ongoing investigation.

One thing officials have confirmed is that alcohol intoxication is suspected as a contributing factor to the collision; however, they have not specified which of the involved drivers was suspected of driving under the influence, or if both drivers were suspected of DUI.

An online jail records search revealed no bookings related to the incident; however, both drivers were hospitalized after the incident and may still be receiving treatment.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Willow of the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L180010001 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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

 

William Hayes contributed to this report.

LAKE ELSINORE — Details are still emerging and officials have not yet made any public statements after a woman died in a two-vehicle, rollover traffic collision, early New Year’s morning. Witnesses at the scene later said a possible fight or argument inside a bar and a verbal altercation over one of the involved driver’s alleged reckless driving happened just before the deadly wreck.

The accident happened just one minute after midnight, Jan. 1, in front of the Riverside Bar at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Joy Street in Lake Elsinore.

Emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the crash after multiple people enjoying a nearby New Year’s Eve celebration witnessed the wreck.

Callers told emergency dispatchers one of the vehicles had overturned in the collision and a woman had been ejected from the vehicle.

According to witnesses, there had been one male driver and a female passenger inside the Jeep and two men inside the Dodge at the time of the crash.

Officials arrived at the scene within minutes of the dispatched call and found the mangled wrecks of two vehicles that had spun across opposing lanes of traffic, where one of the vehicles overturned. Vehicle parts, debris and various personal items were strewn more than two hundred feet along roadway and both directions of travel on Riverside Drive were obstructed.

The vehicles were described as a dark-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee and a silver Dodge Charger.

The Dodge had sustained major front-end damage and come to rest just off Riverside Drive and the Jeep sustained heavy, rollover damage and ended up back on its wheels, near the front of the U Wash self-serve car wash on the northwest side of Riverside Drive.

As firefighter/paramedics evaluated and treated the injured victims and deputies investigated the cause of the crash crowds of onlookers, who just minutes earlier had been celebrating the New Year, watched all the activity from behind nearby fences and police caution tape. Many were heard discussing an argument one of the drivers had been involved in just moments before the deadly wreck.

John Chapel, a Menifee resident who was at the Riverside Bar watching the New Year’s Eve ball drop, later told on-scene reporter and videographer William Hayes that he witnessed the driver of the Jeep involved in a verbal altercation with a woman just before the accident happened.

Chapel said he was inside the bar celebrating with others and didn’t see the argument that preceded the crash, but he went outside after hearing what he described as a “ruckus and commotion” outside the bar. He and others walked outside just in time to see the Jeep, which was on Joy Street, accelerating and causing the tires of his SUV to spin and smoke.

“I saw (the driver of the Jeep) spinning his tires and a woman screamed out, ‘You need to stop,'” Chapel described.

The driver then accelerated at “very high-speed” northbound on Joy Street towards Riverside Drive as the woman yelled, “You’re gonna get T-Boned,” according to Chapel.

“When he pulled off he was spinning his tires,” Chapel explained. “He spun his tires, blew the stop sign at Riverside and got ‘T-Boned.'”

“He went straight through the stop sign and the gentleman who hit him had no time to break or anything,” Chapel explained. “It was split second.”

After the eastbound Dodge struck the speeding Jeep broadside, “the Jeep skid out, hit the curb and flipped,” according to Chapel.

According to Chapel, the woman had been ejected either through the front, passenger’s side window or through the Jeep’s sunroof, which was missing from the SUV.

Firefighter/paramedics determined the woman who had been ejected from the Jeep sustained major, traumatic injuries and was in traumatic, full arrest.

Medical personnel attempted CPR and provided other life-saving measures; however, according to Chapel and other witnesses at the scene, the woman succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

Firefighters determined the driver of the Jeep was trapped inside his vehicle and called for a cut and rescue operation. After bringing in the “Jaws of Life,” firefighters successfully extricated the man from his wrecked vehicle.

While firefighters treated several people injured from both vehicles and deputies began investigating the cause of the collision, officials called for the temporary closure of Riverside Drive in both directions. The roadway remained closed between Joy and Lincoln Streets until officials concluded their investigation. The roadway was re-opened about five hours later.

While deputies interviewed numerous witnesses, AMR transported the two male drivers to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The male passenger of the Dodge was not injured.

Although officials have not yet stated if they believed alcohol or drug intoxication were suspected in the collision, Chapel later said he believed alcohol and reckless behavior played a contributing role in the deadly wreck.

“The driver of the vehicle the woman (was ejected from) I think was ignorant…he was just ignorant,” Chapel said. “I’m not saying the crash happened because he was drunk but (this accident) could have been avoided.”

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the accident and/or altercation that preceded it is encouraged to contact Lake Elsinore PD at (951) 245-3300. Callers can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

 

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.