MORENO VALLEY: One dead after vehicle plows into tree and bursts into flames

MORENO VALLEY — Sheriff’s officials are investigating the cause of a fatal accident after a vehicle crashed into a tree and burst into flames, early Tuesday morning, Jan. 9. The deadly crash happened on Iris Avenue, west of Oliver Street, in Moreno Valley.

City of Moreno Valley Police and Fire personnel and other emergency first responders were dispatched to reports of a major-injury, traffic collision at 4:10 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Jaime Hernandez explained after the initial accident investigation.

Officials arrived within minutes of the dispatched call and reported finding a vehicle in the center divider that fully engulfed in fire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report.

Seven firefighters from two engine companies quickly extinguished the blaze, at which time they found the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle deceased inside the car, according to Newman.

Officials have not provided the name of the victim, pending further investigation, identification and notification of the victim’s family.

Based on the circumstances, members of Moreno Valley PD’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their investigation, officials called for the temporary closure of both directions of travel on Iris Avenue, between Kaiser Hospital and Oliver Street.

Officials re-opened the roadway about five hours later, at 9:40 a.m.

Alcohol and/or drug intoxication do not appear to be factors in the collision, according to Hernandez.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the deadly crash is encouraged to contact Moreno Valley PD Traffic Reconstruction Team members at (951) 486-6700. Callers can refer to incident file number MV180090038 and can remain anonymous.

Nikkie Whildin/Moreno Valley Matters Facebook video

 

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.