UPDATE: Victim, 75, ID’d after fatal Wildomar crash

UPDATED: Saturday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m., With victim’s ID and additional details.

WILDOMAR — Officials have identified an elderly Wildomar resident killed in a two-vehicle crash that happened Thursday afternoon, Oct 25. The deadly collision occurred at the intersection of Bundy Canyon Rd. and Harvest Way, at one of the main entrances to the community known as the Farm.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Harry Medinger, 75, of Wildomar, as the man killed in the collision. Despite life-saving efforts, Medinger succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene at 2:17 p.m.

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Deputies assigned to Wildomar Police Department, along with other emergency personnel, responded to the scene of the crash at 1:37 p.m., after receiving multiple reports of the accident, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. James Woodland explained after the fatal accident.

When they arrived officials located a wrecked black Hyundai that had collided nearly head-on with a white BMW in the intersection.

Both drivers involved in the collision sustained minor injuries but the 75-year-old passenger of the Hyundai sustained fatal injuries. Although a sheriff’s release indicated the victim was transported to an area hospital where he later passed away, a coroner’s release indicated he was declared deceased at the scene of the crash.

Based on the circumstances, Lake Elsinore PD’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the crash, “and a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision is being conducted,” said Woodland.

While deputies investigated the cause of the crash they called for the temporary closure of Bundy Canyon, between Farm Rd. and Harvest Way East, which caused a traffic nightmare for area residents and afternoon commuters, as they were redirected into and then tried to find their way through and back out of the winding Farm community.

The road remained closed for about six hours and was reopened at the conclusion of the initial on-scene investigation, according to Woodland.

Although the investigation is continuing, Woodland said alcohol and/or drug intoxication are not suspected to be factors in the deadly crash.

During the extended closure of Bundy Canyon, while cars were being detoured into the maze-like Farm community, area residents jumped into action and were soon seen posted at intersections within the neighborhood, helping to direct traffic and guide motorists back out to Bundy Canyon.

“There were lots of cars and confused and angry people getting lost,” area resident Crystal Clift later explained; saying, “This place is a maze and I still get lost.”

Clift’s husband “JC” was one of many Farm residents who helped direct traffic around the fatal accident scene and to the other side of the small, tight-knit community so they could continue on their way.

“Our residents at The Farm are more like family. We look out for one another and when any type of crisis happens many of us jump into action and do what we can,” Clift explained. “I just love living here.”

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing and officials have requested that anyone with additional information about the collision to contact Deputy Petersen of the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300.

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.