SAN JACINTO: One hospitalized after accident sends car careening into gas main barrier
SAN JACINTO — A man was hospitalized with broken bones and other serious injuries after plowing into a car that reportedly attempted to make a U-Turn just west of the intersection of Cottonwood and San Remo Avenues. The impact sent one of the two cars careening into a steel barrier surrounding and protecting an above-ground gas meter. The vehicle missed smashing into the gas main by mere feet.
A speeding car that sideswiped another vehicle nearly plowed into an above ground gas main. Jesse Bermudez/Hemet Valley Incidents photo
City of San Jacinto Police and Fire Departments along with other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the wreck just after 3 p.m., Wednesday, Apr. 18.
When they arrived, officials found a white Toyota Corolla with moderate driver’s side damage blocking the eastbound lane of Cottonwood Avenue.
A black Acura Integra with major front-end damage came to rest a bit further after plowing into the metal barrier protecting the gas main in front of a home along the south side of Cottonwood.
According to a witness at the scene, the woman driving the Toyota “seemed shaken up with no serious injuries.” She reportedly declined further treatment at the scene.
The man driving the Integra was in obvious pain and struggling to breathe, as he leaned across the driver’s seat holding his head and moaning.
A deputy and several citizens took turns speaking with the man, trying to comfort him and keep keep him calm while waiting for medics to arrive. According to a witness, the man sustained a serious laceration to his right forearm and a break to his left leg below the knee. He was eventually transported by ground ambulance to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley. His current condition was not known, but according to an official at the scene his injuries were not life threatening.
While paramedics evaluated and treated the two drivers, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station investigated the cause of the collision.
Deputies determined both vehicles had been traveling westbound on Cottonwood when the driver of the Toyota made an abrupt U-Turn just west of San Remo Avenue. It was not known if the woman signaled her intention to turn but her sudden and unexpected movement preceded the accident.
The driver of the Acura, who was admittedly speeding and following too closely behind the Toyota said he did not see the driver begin her turn in time to stop or avoid an impact. He attempted to swerve to the left around her vehicle, at which time he sideswiped the driver’s door of turning car, sending both skidding into the opposing side of traffic and off the roadway.
San Jacinto PD’s investigation into the collision is ongoing.
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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.
Mr. Montgomery, first I would like to commend you on your service to our country an to the community.
With regards to your article written on April 19th, 2018 in the Riverside County News Source where you wrote an article about an accident in San Jacinto-headline reading “San Jacinto-One Hospitalized After Accident Sends car Careening into Gas Main Barrier.”
I am surprised by some of your statements and inaccuracies. A person involved in the accident stated that as an eye witness that no one involved in the accident was transported to the hospital via ambulance, if anyone visited the hospital it was after the fact.
Another inaccuracy is that the white Toyota. Corolla sustained “moderate drivers side damage.” When in fact the car is most likely a total loss.
The man you wrote about going to the hospital was not the only party injured yet little was mentioned about others being hurt.
The fact remains that an accident occurred and that is the only fact that should have been reported. As you stated that the police department was still investigating and only after the conclusion of the investigation and the facts in order should an article be posted.
Thank you for your input and clarification of some of the facts, WJ.
When I covered this incident the only info I had came from the four photos I shared and a two-line post made by a “community reporter.”
As with all active and breaking incidents, there is always the possibility of some initial inaccuracies and I do truly try my best to flesh out all available facts and details. Sometimes I have police reports or press releases to go by, while other times – such as this accident – I have nothing more than a few photos and a witness statement or two. The fact that I live 800 miles from Hemet/San Jacinto obviously complicates matters a bit, but I do my best to be as accurate as possible.
In spite of it all and the fact that I get no pay for my efforts, I really do love my little little “jhobby.”
Best wishes,
-TM