HEMET: Officials investigating Domenigoni Pkwy crash
HEMET — Officials are at the scene of a two vehicle traffic collision that happened this afternoon at the intersection of Domenigoni Parkway and Warren Rd.
According to at least one witness who called 911 before the accident happened, the driver who caused the crash was possibly under the influence or suffering from a medical crisis. The driver had reportedly been speeding and swerving across the roadway before failing to slow or stop for a red light and plowing into the back of another vehicle.
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California Highway Patrol, Hemet Police Department, Cal Fire/Riverside County and Hemet Fire Departments, along with American Medical Response, were dispatched to the scene shortly after 4:30 p.m., after multiple motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the crash. 911 callers advised that one of the drivers appeared to be unconscious.
Officials are investigating the cause of a two vehicle crash on Domenigoni Parkway at Warren Rd. Karin Stevens photo
When officials arrived they found two pickup trucks with major damage. Vehicle parts, cable installation and electronics equipment, satellite dishes, and a ladder were spread across the roadway. The two trucks, described as a silver Toyota Tundra with major front-end damage and a white Ford with major rear-end damage, were blocking the number two lane of the roadway.
As traffic began backing up and motorists worked their way past the scene of the wreck, several witnesses and good Samaritans who had pulled over were seen providing aid and comfort to the vehicle’s occupants.
At least one of the people involved in the crash was eventually transported to an area hospital for further treatment. The full extent of that or the other victims’ injuries was not immediately known
While firefighter-paramedics and AMR medics evaluated and treated the victims, officers investigated the cause of the crash. Based on evidence at the scene as well as witness statements, officials determined the driver of the Silver Tundra had been traveling eastbound on Domenigoni approaching a red traffic signal at Warren Rd just before the accident.
The Toyota failed to stop for the red light at the intersection and slammed into the back of the Ford, which had been stopped and waiting at the light.
One area resident later posted on social media that her husband had witnessed the crash and was on the phone with 911 reporting that the driver of the Toyota was driving erratically and possibly impaired when the accident happened. While he was still on the phone with emergency dispatchers the Toyota plowed into the back of the Ford, which had been stopped at a red light at the intersection.
A Time Warner Cable truck eventually arrived at the scene to help clean up and collect the various cable and electronics equipment, while the two wrecked trucks were towed from the scene.
While officials worked at the scene eastbound traffic quickly backed up, with long waits reported from numerous motorists.
Officials have not provided any additional information regarding the driver who reportedly caused the wreck and their investigation is ongoing.
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CeCe Stevens video
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Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 his “fluid family” boasts 13 children and 14 – soon to be 16 – grandchildren.