PERRIS: Mead Valley man who grabbed onto moving vehicle run over, killed

PERRIS — A man who officials say ran up to a moving vehicle and grabbed onto the car’s side-view mirror died after the terrified driver sped off, dragging him under the vehicle’s wheels, Sunday, Feb. 4. Officials are now trying to determine what caused the victim to run into the street and grab onto the moving vehicle.

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the 600 block of E. San Jacinto Avenue, east of Wilson Avenue and Bob Long Park, in Perris shortly after 5 p.m., after receiving reports of a vehicle that had struck a pedestrian.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Police Station, along with Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and paramedics, arrived on scene within minutes and found the man down in the roadway, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Lamb explained after the man’s death.

“Life-saving measures were attempted; however, the victim, a 36 year-old resident of Mead Valley, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” said Lamb.

Based on the circumstances, members of the Perris Stations Traffic Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their investigation, deputies determined the vehicle that fatally struck the man was traveling eastbound on E. San Jacinto Ave., “when for unknown reasons, the victim ran up the vehicle and grabbed hold of the drivers passenger mirror,” Lamb explained. “The driver became frightened and drove away, causing the victim to be run over by the vehicle.”

The victim’s name has not been released, pending further investigation and notification of his family.

As the investigation was continuing, officials called for the temporary closure of both directions of travel on E. San Jacinto Avenue. The road remained closed for several hours during their investigation.

At this time, neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be contributing factors in the collision, according to Lamb.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Deputy Smith of the Perris Station Traffic Team at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE180350080 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

 

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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.