Motorcyclist seriously injured in Hemet hit and run

HEMET — A motorcyclist was seriously injured by a hit and run driver yesterday, Friday night, Nov. 16. The driver who hit the woman fled from the scene of the crash, which happened at the intersection of N. Lyon and W. Menlo avenues in Hemet. According to a good Samaritan who tried to help the rider, she was just one block from her Palm Ave. home when she was struck.

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City of Hemet Police and Fire officials, along with Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the crash about 7:15 p.m., after receiving reports of a hit and run involving a car and motorcycle. 911 callers reported the victim was alert, but screaming in pain from her injuries. Callers also reported two other vehicles had taken off after the hit and run driver, who was last seen fleeing northbound on Lyon Ave., in a newer, dark-colored Hyundai Sonata.

When the first officer arrived he found a chaotic scene with a Harley-Davidson-style motorcycle down in the middle of the intersection and the victim on the ground nearby.

Numerous witnesses and good Samaritans were at the seriously injured victim’s side providing her aid and comfort while other citizens were directing traffic and keeping vehicles moving around the injured rider and her wrecked motorcycle.

Witnesses later said the woman’s legs were twisted and appeared to be broken and the officer immediately began providing first aid to the traumatized woman as she lay in agony. The officer quickly cut open the victim’s pants, revealing severe trauma to her legs and what appeared to witnesses to be a compound fracture or severe laceration.

Firefighters and and AMR ambulance soon arrived and took over medical care. Based on the the severity of the victim’s injuries firefighters initially requested an air ambulance to the scene, but the woman was later transported by ground ambulance to an area trauma center.

According to other motorists and witnesses who saw the crash, after the car plowed into the motorcyclist the driver backed up and fled from the scene at high speed.

Several people from nearby homes said they jumped the walls of their back yards and ran to help the downed rider after hearing the crash and seeing the other driver flee.

While officials worked at the scene they shut down the entire intersection, directing all traffic away from the area of the crash and onto other streets.

As of this report, it was not known if the alleged suspect was located and arrested by officers and the victim’s medical condition had not been updated.

Hemet PD’s investigation is ongoing.

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

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Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year 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 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.