Speeding and DUI suspected in Norco crash that ejected 3 of 4 occupants

NORCO — Authorities investigating a solo-vehicle, major injury crash in Norco that sent four people to the hospital early Friday morning, Oct. 19, suspect excessive speed and DUI as contributing factors in the accident, according to sheriff’s officials. The early morning crash happened in on 5th St., just west of Neil Snipes Park, near Broken Lance Dr.

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Deputies assigned to the Norco Sheriff’s Office, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene of the crash at 2:36 a.m., after receiving reports of the major-injury traffic collision, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Raemie Wood explained after the crash. 911 callers also reported several people were ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

When officials arrived they found three victims who had been thrown from the vehicle still in the roadway and a fourth inside a wrecked vehicle.

“All four occupants were transported to local area hospitals for serious injuries sustained during the collision,” Raemie later explained.

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

During their initial, on-scene investigation, officials determined the wrecked vehicle had been traveling westbound on 5th St. at a high rate of speed, when the driver lost control of the vehicle. “The car then collided into the center median, causing the vehicle to spin out of control,” according to Raemie, who said, “Alcohol, and/or drug impairment appears to be a contributing factor in this collision.”

Sheriff’s officials are still trying to determine if any of the occupants ejected from the vehicle were wearing their seat belts and their investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information about this accident or who knows what may have led to the crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Lewis at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number G182920005 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit an anonymous tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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.