CORONA: One dead, one critical, after car smashes into tree

CORONA — One person was killed and another is in critical condition after a vehicle plowed into a tree late Saturday night, Mar. 10. According to officials, wet roads were possibly a contributing factor in the deadly single-vehicle wreck that happened on the 900 block of North McKinley in Corona.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified 22-year-old, Joron Portis, of Compton, as the victim killed in the crash. According to a coroner’s release, Portis died about ten minutes after the deadly accident and he was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel at 11:20 p.m.

City of Corona Police and Fire personnel were dispatched to the scene of the wreck shortly after 11 p.m., after other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report that a vehicle had plowed into a tree, Corona PD Public Information Officer Tobias Kouroubacalis explained after the deadly accident. Callers reported there were two victims inside the destroyed sedan.

When officials arrived at the scene of the crash, they found a white late-model Mercedes-Benz against a tree. The sedan had major front-end damage and two victims were inside the heavily damaged car.

Officials determined that one of the occupants, later identified as Portis, had already succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other occupant was rushed to an area hospital for further treatment and life-saving measures. The person’s condition was listed as critical.

Members assigned to Corona PD’s Collision Response Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. During their initial investigation officers determined the victims were traveling northbound on McKinley at an unknown speed when the Mercedes lost control, left the roadway, and smashed head-on into a tree.

Pending toxicology results, officials have not yet determined if drug or alcohol intoxication were factors in the deadly crash.

Anyone with information about this collision is encouraged to contact Traffic Investigator Jason Gardner at (951) 817-5784 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-2656 and can remain anonymous.

 

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.