Man who fled & crashed after mowing down family in Perris parking lot arrested

UPDATED: Sunday, Aug. 26, 9 p.m., With additional details from RSO.

PERRIS — A family is recovering after an allegedly intoxicated man plowed into them as they left a Perris grocery store, Saturday afternoon, Aug. 25. After mowing down the family, the alleged suspect attempted to flee the scene but was stopped when he smashed into another car and was detained at the scene by witnesses.

The traumatic incident – which left victims, personal items, and groceries – scattered across the parking lot directly outside the store, happened at Food 4 Less at 1688 N. Perris Blvd.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:

EASTVALE: Man hiding in bushes lunges at, grabs, chases, boy – officials now searching

Excessive speed, reckless driving, reported in Perris motorcycle crash

Man arrested after Idyllwild stabbing, victim in ICU after surgery

After an investigation, officers arrested 19-year-old, Daniel Steven-Montes Franco. He was later booked into Riverside County Jail on suspicion of hit and run resulting in injury, driving while under the influence of drugs causing injury, and committing a felony while on bail or early release.

Franco remains in custody on $70,000 bail and additional charges could be filed at his arraignment, scheduled for Aug. 29, at Riverside’s Hall Of Justice.

Deputies assigned to the Perris Police Station and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the grocery store’s parking lot just after 3:30 p.m., after numerous witnesses called 911.

911 callers reported that a speeding white Camaro ran down a family and told emergency dispatchers that multiple victims were down in the parking lot.

Callers also reported that after striking the family, Franco attempted to flee the scene but crashed into a black BMW. It was not immediately known if the BMW had been parked or was being driven when the Camaro plowed into it.

“Witnesses to the collision surrounded Franco and his passenger and detained them until officers arrived,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Howard Hibbler explained in a later press release.

Having heard all the chaos outside the store, throngs of curious onlookers flooded out of the grocery store and other nearby businesses, while numerous good Samaritans ran to the aid of the victims who had been thrown about by the impact.

Within moments of the dispatched call, more than a half-dozen deputies began flooding into the parking lot with lights flashing and sirens blaring. They were quickly followed by firefighters and paramedics, as well as several AMR ambulance crews and supervisors.

When officials arrived they found a chaotic scene with adults and children scattered across the parking lot area just outside a set of doors to the grocery store. Deputies quickly detained the alleged driver as medical personnel began evaluating and treating the victims.

While paramedics treated those injured in the hit and run, a child’s stuffed animal, a purse and wallet, shoes and flip-flops, and crushed eggs and other food items, lay scattered across the parking lot. Good Samaritans and officials eventually went around picking up the items, gathering what could be salvaged for the victims.

Although the exact number of injured was not immediately available, at least four victims – including a mother, father, and two children – were eventually transported to Riverside University Healthcare Systems in Moreno Valley for further treatment. None of the victim’s injuries were considered life threatening, according to medical personnel at the scene and later confirmed by Hibbler.

As their investigation was getting underway, deputies cordoned off much of the parking lot, designating the entire area outside the grocery store and where the Camaro had crashed a crime scene.

During their subsequent investigation, officials interviewed numerous people who had witnessed the incident or come to the aid of the victims.

Deputies eventually evaluated Franco and determined he was “under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and inhalants,” according to Hibbler who explained, “Franco was arrested and transported to a local hospital as a precaution,” and later booked into jail.

One area resident who said he was walking into the grocery store when the “crazy” incident happened later described the alleged suspect’s “bizarre” behavior after the crash and said he saw deputies removing empty beer cans and drug paraphernalia from inside the wrecked Camaro.

“He just had a wild look in his eyes,” the witness, who requested to remain anonymous, later said. “It was like he couldn’t have cared less.”

Anyone who witnessed this incident and has not provided a statement to officials is encouraged to contact Perris PD at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE182370078 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

William Hayes/OC Hawk News photos

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

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 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.