SAN JACINTO: Girl killed after suspected drunk driver runs stop sign, plows into other vehicle

SAN JACINTO — A 17-year-old girl died in a suspected DUI traffic collision that sent several others to area hospitals, late Friday evening, Feb. 2. The fatal crash happened at the intersection of Ramona Boulevard and Lyon Avenue in San Jacinto.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified Denise Canez as the juvenile who died in the accident. According to officials, Canez was pronounced deceased at 12:54 a.m., after she had been rushed to Hemet Valley Medical Center following the accident.

“Denise was sitting in the back seat of our family van,” Canez’ devastated family later explained. “They were sitting at a stop when the van was rear ended by a street racer and she was ejected from the window.”

Although excessive speed and alcohol were believed to be contributing factors in the deadly crash, officials have not yet confirmed that street racing was involved in the fatal collision.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station responded to reports of a major fatal traffic collision at the intersection shortly before midnight, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Himmelberg explained after the deadly crash.

During a subsequent investigation deputies determined the deadly crash happened when a Honda Accord, which was traveling west on Ramona Boulevard at a “high rate of speed” failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection and plowed into a Toyota Sienna was traveling north on Lyon Avenue, Himmelberg explained.

All of the vehicles’ occupants were transported to area hospitals with various injuries.

Canez, who was in the Toyota when the Honda smashed into later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead in the hospital’s emergency room.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision, and the investigation is ongoing,” said Himmelberg, who did not specify if any arrests had been made as a result of the wreck.

While deputies investigated the cause of the collision they called for the temporary closure of the intersection in all directions. Officials reopened the intersection at the conclusion of the initial investigation.

Canez’ family has created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help raise money to cover burial expenses and other costs associated with her death. Saying, “Denise was called home much too early,” Karla Abarca-Marquez explained that the day of the young victim’s death “will be a date forever embedded into our hearts.” Anyone wishing to donate is encouraged to visit the family’s fundraising page.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the deadly crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Bechtold at San Jacinto Police Department at (951) 487-7352. Callers can refer to incident file number I180330121 and can remain anonymous.

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

 

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.