SJ woman arrested after DUI crash sends Yucaipa man, 72, to hospital

SAN JACINTO — An allegedly intoxicated driver was arrested in San Jacinto after she plowed broadside into another car, seriously injuring an elderly man. The accident happened early yesterday morning, Saturday, Oct. 27, at the intersection of Ramona Expressway and State St.

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After an investigation, officials arrested Angelica Hauste, 23, of San Jacinto, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Bryan DeLoss explained after the woman’s arrest.

She was initially hospitalized after the crash and later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing injuries. She was released from jail the same day of her arrest after posting $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Southwest Justice Center, Dec. 27.

Deputies assigned to San Jacinto Police Station, along with other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene about 4:10 a.m., after receiving reports of a major-injury, “T-Bone” traffic collision.

When officials arrived they found two heavily damaged cars, described as a 2017 Toyota Corolla with front-end damage and 2004 Chrysler Sebring with major, driver’s side damage. Vehicle parts and debris were scattered throughout the intersection, and other motorists were trying to work their way around the early morning crash.

Hauste and the other driver, later identified as 72-year-old, Yucaipa resident, Richard Thomas, were still at the scene and both had been injured in the collision.

AMR rushed Thomas to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries and Hauste, who “displayed obvious signs of intoxication” according to DeLoss, was detained at the scene and later arrested.

Based on the circumstances, members of San Jacinto PD’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their preliminary on-scene investigation deputies determined that Hauste had been traveling east on Ramona Expressway just before the collision. At the same time Thomas was preparing to make a left turn from northbound State St. onto westbound Ramona Expressway.

As the vehicles entered the intersection and Thomas began to make his turn the two vehicles collided, with Hauste’s Toyota slamming broadside into Thomas’ driver’s side door. The tremendous impact caused major damage to both vehicles, according to DeLong and many area residents later reported being woken up by the sound of what one woman described as the “horrific” crash.

San Jacinto PD’s investigation is ongoing and officials have not released any further information regarding the elderly victim’s status.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Bechtold at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I18300011 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a 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.