UPDATED: VALLE VISTA: Officials ID 58-year-old pedestrian killed while crossing Hwy 74

UPDATE: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.

VALLE VISTA — Officials have identified a man who died after he was hit by a pickup truck while crossing busy Highway 74, also known as Florida Avenue, in Valle Vista last Sunday night.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified Antonio Ramirez, 58, of Hemet as the victim who died in the accident. According to a Coroner’s release Ramirez was pronounced dead at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley at 9:49 p.m., nearly two hours after the vehicle versus pedestrian accident was reported.

CHP is still investigating the cause of the deadly collision and officials have not released any additional details regarding the man’s death or their investigation, which is ongoing.

 

VALLE VISTA — A Hemet man was struck and killed last night while crossing Highway 74 near 8th Street, in the unincorporated community of Valle Vista, east of the City of Hemet.

The intersection, which is poorly lit and has no crosswalks in the area, was the site of another major injury accident less than one week ago when a motorcycle plowed broadside into a car that attempted to make a left turn in front of him. That motorcyclist was critically injured in the accident.

California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident shortly before 8:15 p.m., after the driver who struck the pedestrian called 911 to report the collision.

When CHP arrived they located the victim’s body down in the middle of the roadway with several motorists and witnesses stopped at the scene and trying to direct traffic away from the man’s body. The victim was unconscious and unresponsive and had sustained major traumatic injuries. CHP officers immediately began performing CPR until firefighter-paramedics arrived and took over attempting life-saving measures.

With paramedics continuing to perform CPR, American Medical Response medics eventually rushed the victim to Hemet Valley Medical Center. Despite their efforts the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by emergency room staff.

Officials have not released the victim’s identity, pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.

CHP investigated the cause of the deadly wreck and interviewed the driver, who remained at the scene after the accident and was reportedly cooperating with CHP’s investigation.

CHP determined the driver was travelling westbound on Hwy 74 in a grey, 2009 Nissan Frontier pickup truck just before the collision, according to CHP Officer Darren Meyer. The driver, who was identified as a 38-year-old, Hemet resident, told investigating officers he saw the victim directly in his path a moment before the impact but was unable to avoid the collision.

While officials investigated the cause of the crash they called for the temporary closure of westbound lanes of Hwy 74 and the eastbound direction of travel was reduced to one lane. The roadway was reopened after the conclusion of the initial accident investigation.

Neither alcohol nor drugs have been ruled out as possible contributing factors in the deadly crash and CHP’s investigation is active and ongoing.

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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.