UPDATE: Fatally struck crossing Hwy 74, Menifee woman, 46, ID’d

UPDATED:  Monday, Dec 17, 8:30 a.m., With coroner’s release of information

MENIFEE — Officials have identified a woman who died after being struck by a vehicle early Saturday evening, Dec. 15. The fatal accident, which happened in the area of Highway 74 and 3rd St., in Menifee, was the first of two pedestrians hit and killed in Menifee in less than eight hours. The other deadly vehicle versus pedestrian accident happened on Encanto Dr., between Ethanac Rd. and McCall Blvd.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Maria Rivera, 46, of Menifee, as the woman killed in the collision. A coroner’s release indicated she was pronounced deceased within minutes of the accident, at 5:29 p.m.

Deputies assigned to Menifee Police Station and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the accident shortly before 5:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a woman who was hit by a car while crossing the busy highway, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. John Burke later explained.

When officials arrived they found the pedestrian, later identified as Rivera, down in the roadway. Paramedics determined the victim had already succumbed to her injuries and she was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Based on the circumstances, members of Menifee PD’s Traffic Team responded and assumed the investigation. The driver who hit Rivera reportedly remained at the scene and was cooperating with the Traffic Team’s investigation. Witnesses to the collision later told deputies investigating the crash that Rivera was crossing the roadway when she was fatally struck by a vehicle.

While officials investigated the cause of the collision they called for the temporary closure of all lanes of SR-74, between 3rd and 4th streets. The lanes remained closed for nearly six hours, reportedly re-opening around 11 p.m.

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No additional injuries were reported as a result of the accident, according to Burke, who said alcohol and/or drug impairment do not appear to be contributing factors in the collision. 

Menifee PD’s investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Officer Cruz at the Perris Station at (951) 210-1073. Callers can refer to incident file number ME183490066 and can remain anonymous.

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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.