HEMET: Two hospitalized after head-on wreck
HEMET — Reports of a head-on injury traffic collision involving two vehicles and a motorcycle brought emergency first responders from five area agencies rushing to the scene last night. Although officials determined no motorcycle had been involved in the collision, two drivers were injured and both were hospitalized after the crash.
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Two drivers were injured after a head-on collision at the intersection of Florida Ave. and Columbia Street last night. Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photo
Because the crash happened along the border of incorporated and unincorporated Hemet, City of Hemet Police and Fire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, CHP and Riverside County Sheriff’s along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the the accident shortly before 7:20 p.m., after multiple people called 911 to report the accident.
Callers advised the accident happened just east of the intersection of Florida Avenue and Columbia Street and that the two vehicles were blocking lanes of traffic. Callers also reported that other motorists were driving through the accident scene and callers were worried about the potential for a second accident.
Although officials began arriving at the scene within minutes, their arrival was slowed by motorists who continued driving into and through the intersection, blocking emergency vehicles and fire apparatus from being able gain immediate access to the crash site. (See Public Safety Incidents video below.)
Once at the scene, officials found two wrecked vehicles, described as a silver Toyota Tacoma and a white Volvo SUV in the middle Florida Avenue, just east of Columbia Street. Both vehicles had sustained major front end damage and vehicle parts and debris were scattered across the roadway.
Firefighter-paramedics began evaluating and treating the two drivers while Hemet PD investigated the cause of the collision and directed vehicles away from the accident scene. AMR medics eventually transported both victims to Hemet Valley Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Their current conditions are not known.
Hemet PD is investigating the cause of the crash and their investigation is active and ongoing.
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Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents video
Eye News Media Productions video
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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and 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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.