Driver severely burned after fiery, solo-vehicle, DUI wreck
LA QUINTA — An allegedly intoxicated driver was hospitalized after suffering serious burn injuries in a fiery, early morning, rollover crash, Saturday, Nov. 24. The solo-vehicle wreck happened at the Ave. 52 and Jefferson St. traffic circle, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Angel Ramos later explained.
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La Quinta sheriff’s deputies and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene of the crash around 5:10 a.m. 911 callers reported the vehicle involved in the accident had overturned and burst into flames.
Officials arrived within minutes and found a burgundy 2004 Acura engulfed in fire, which firefighters managed to quickly extinguish. Deputies located the driver and sole occupant from the vehicle, later identified as Jose Garnica, 21, of Indio, nearby.
“Garnica managed to exit the vehicle with severe but non-life-threatening injuries,” explained Ramos. Based on the severity of Garnica’s burn and other traumatic injuries he was rushed by ground ambulance to an area hospital for further treatment.
Deputies determined that just before the fiery wreck Garnica was driving southbound on Jefferson St., approaching the traffic circle.
“Prior to entering the traffic circle at Avenue 52, Garnica struck the curb, causing him to lose control,” said Ramos. “The vehicle proceeded straight, tumbling and landing upright between two palm trees, where the vehicle caught fire.”
During the preliminary investigation, Garnica displayed signs of being under the influence of alcohol/drugs, but because he was hospitalized, criminal charges for driving under the influence of a controlled substance will be filed out of custody, according to Ramos.
The sheriff’s DUI crash investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the crash and has not yet provided a statement is encouraged to contact Deputy Hinkle at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863-8990. Callers can refer to incident file number LA183280010 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, 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.