Driver injured after SUV plows head-on into Hemet utility pole

HEMET — One person was injured in a suspected DUI crash after an SUV smashed head-on into a Hemet utility pole early this morning, Saturday, Oct. 20.

The minor injury accident, which sheared the pole off at its base and left the destroyed pole dangling in mid-air by its wires, happened on SR-74/Florida Ave., between California Ave. and Warren Rd., according to a CHP incident log.

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City of Hemet Police and Fire Departments, CHP, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene of the crash just before 2:50 a.m., after receiving reports that a vehicle had smashed into a utility pole.

When officials arrived they found the wrecked beige Jeep facing west in the eastbound lanes of Florida Ave. The sole occupant, who witnesses said was unlicensed and appeared intoxicated, was reportedly up and walking around after the crash.

The victim, who has not been identified publicly, was transported to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning. Although the victim’s injuries were described as minor, officials have not specified the nature or extent of the person’s injuries.

Witnesses later told investigating officers the Jeep had been traveling on the wrong side of the road just before the crash and that the driver was possibly under the influence.

Because the driver was initially believed to have been under the influence of alcohol Hemet PD turned the collision investigation over to CHP.

Although Highway Patrol officers have not yet stated if the driver was under the influence, one witness said from the scene that the person was determined by CHP to have been four times over the legal limit.

Officials are working to determine who the destroyed pole belongs to and SCE later responded to the scene and advised the pole was not one of theirs and was possibly owned by Frontier. Officials also determined the dangling pole posed no immediate danger to citizens as it was about eight to ten feet off the roadway.

CHP is investigating the cause of the crash and their investigation is ongoing.

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

 

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.

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.