UPDATED: San Jacinto woman, 19, ID’d after fatally struck while crossing street

SAN JACINTO — A 19-year-old San Jacinto resident died after she was hit by a car while crossing a busy San Jacinto street, Friday, Mar. 9. The deadly vehicle versus pedestrian collision happened at the intersection of S. San Jacinto and W. Esplanade Avenues.

Emergency first responders rushed to the scene of the accident shortly after 11 p.m., after a motorist called 911 to report having hit the victim. The caller told emergency dispatchers he hit a woman who was crossing the street. The driver also advised the victim was down in the intersection and unresponsive.

When officials arrived they found the victim face down in the intersection and she had sustained major traumatic injuries. AMR medics transported the critically injured woman to Hemet Valley Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified the victim as Jovanna Perales. According to a coroner’s release, Perales was pronounced dead about 45 minutes after she was fatally struck.

While paramedics treated the victim, deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station investigated the cause of the accident, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Himmelberg explained after the fatal accident.

During their initial investigation deputies learned that just prior to the accident a Nissan Versa was traveling westbound on W. Esplanade Avenue approaching S. San Jacinto Avenue. At the same time Perales was walking north on S. San Jacinto Avenue.

The Nissan entered the intersection with a green traffic light, just as Perales began to cross Esplanade Avenue. “The pedestrian stepped directly into the path of the Nissan and was struck,” Himmelberg explained.

Although she was inside the marked crosswalk, according to Himmelberg, Perales attempted to cross the street against a red DO NOT WALK signal. 

It was not immediately known how fast the Nissan was traveling when it hit Perales, but the posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph.

While deputies conducted their investigation they called for the temporary closure of the intersection and the intersection remained closed for about three hours, according to Himmelberg.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or who witnessed the deadly accident is encouraged to contact call Deputy Cortez at the San Jacinto Police Department at (951) 487-7352. Callers can refer to incident file number I180680100 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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.