Woman, 19, arrested for DUI/Drugs after Riverside man, 52, killed in crash

RIVERSIDE — A woman was arrested after an allegedly drug-fueled Riverside crash led to the death of a man early Saturday morning, Oct. 27. The fatal head-on collision happened on Central Ave., about 100 yards east of Montclair Dr.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Leonard Flores, 52, of Riverside, as the man killed in the crash. A coroner release indicated Flores succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the collision about fifteen minutes after the accident was reported and he was pronounced deceased at 5:35 a.m.

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City of Riverside Police and Fire personnel responded to the scene about 5:20 a.m., after receiving a 911 call reporting the traffic collision.

When officials arrived they found two vehicles in the middle of the roadway, with vehicle parts and debris spread across the lanes of travel. Paramedics found the man later identified as Flores had sustained major traumatic injuries and was clinging to life. Despite life saving efforts, the critically injured man passed away at the scene just minutes after medical personnel arrived.

Two women from the other involved vehicle sustained minor injuries and were both treated at the scene and later declined further medical treatment.

Based on the circumstances, members assigned to Riverside PD’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their investigation, officers determined the driver who caused the deadly crash, 19-year-old, Brenda Baker Phansukhumthana, “displayed symptoms of driving under the influence of drugs,” Riverside PD later said, without specifying the type of drugs she was suspected of being under the influence of.

Based on their investigation and findings, officers arrested Phansukhumthana and she was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of felony DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter. She was released from custody a few hours later after posting $75,000 bail and she is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall of Justice, Dec. 28.

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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.