HEMET: No injuries after truck fails to stop at intersection, plows into car

HEMET — No injuries were reported after rain-slicked roads and failing to fully stop at a posted stop sign led to a two-vehicle wreck in Hemet, Tuesday afternoon. The accident was just one of many reported as rain swept across the San Jacinto Valley throughout the day.

For more information about City of Hemet’s CERT program, including online manuals, online certification information and requirements for volunteering, visit: City of Hemet’s webpage. For County of Riverside residents, visit: County of Riverside Emergency Management Department’s CERT page.

A CERT volunteer was first to arrive at the scene of a two-car wreck in Hemet this afternoon. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

City of Hemet Police and Fire Departments along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the intersection of S. Buena Vista Street and E. Central Avenue about 12:30 p.m.

911 callers who reported the crash told emergency dispatchers the collision happened when a pickup truck did a “California stop” at the intersection and plowed into a car, which had the right of way.

When officials arrived at the scene they found a heavily-damaged red Dodge Neon in the middle of the Central, just east of Buena Vista. A burgundy Chevy Silverado with minor front-end damage was pulled to the side of Central, east of the intersection.

A good Samaritan and volunteer CERT member, who was dressed in rubber boots, wet weather gear and a CERT vest and had been monitoring the City’s emergency radio traffic, was in the middle of the intersection helping to direct traffic to ensure the safety of those involved in the crash.

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) vests are worn by community volunteers prepared to assist during major incidents, emergencies and natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires and floods.

The good Samaritan continued assisting with traffic control until Hemet police officers and volunteers arrived and took over.

While the occupants from both vehicles were checked for injuries, officers began investigating the cause of the crash. During their investigation, officials determined the pickup truck had been traveling westbound on Central when the driver failed to come to a complete stop at the intersection of Buena Vista.

The pickup truck then collided with the Dodge, which had been traveling southbound on Buena Vista Street. The impact spun the smaller sedan around and it came to rest facing southbound across Central.

There were no reported injuries and the drivers later exchanged insurance information. The crash left the Dodge inoperable and the sedan was eventually towed from the scene of the wreck.

Hemet PD’s investigation is ongoing.

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Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Timothy Franzese/Pubic Safety Incidents 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.