UPDATED: Riverside victim ID’d after deadly JV crash

UPDATED: Thursday, Sept. 20, 11:20 a.m., With coroner’s release

JURUPA VALLEY — Officials have identified a man killed in a three-vehicle crash in Jurupa Valley, Saturday morning, Sept. 15. The deadly crash happened in the area of Limonite and Pacific avenues, in the city of Jurupa Valley.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials identified Rene Cruz, 25, of Riverside, as the man killed in the collision. A coroner’s release indicated Cruz succumbed to his injuries about 40 minutes after the crash and he was pronounced deceased at Riverside Community Hospital at 10:33 a.m.

Deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Police Station and other emergency personnel  responded to the crash shortly before 10 a.m., after receiving reports of a major-injury traffic collision, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Raemie Wood later explained.

When officials arrived they found several wrecked vehicles with five injured victims, including three juveniles, spread between the three vehicles. Paramedics treated the injured before they were transported to area hospitals where one of the drivers, later identified as Cruz, died.

Based on the circumstances, Jurupa Valley PD’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their preliminary investigation officials determined a black Acura Integra had been traveling westbound on Limonite Ave. when it crossed into the eastbound lanes and into oncoming traffic of Limonite Ave., where it collided with an eastbound SUV.

That crash caused another eastbound vehicle to swerve around the collision and into the center median, where it collided with a street sign.

Officials are still working to determine if alcohol or drug intoxication were contributing factors in the deadly crash.

Jurupa Valley PD’s investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with additional information regarding this crash or who witnessed the deadly collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Shamhart at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number JV182580043 and can remain anonymous.

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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 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 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.