Redding man in wheelchair hit by car, critically injured

REDDING — A man driving a motorized wheelchair in traffic was critically injured when he was struck by a vehicle Monday afternoon, Jan. 14. Redding PD later reported the accident happened at the intersection of Placer and Willis streets.

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City of Redding Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the accident about 12:15 p.m., after receiving reports of a major-injury traffic collision involving a wheelchair and vehicle, Redding Police Officer Mack later explained.

When officials arrived at the scene they found the driver of the wheelchair, identified as Genaro Maravilla, 54, of Redding, down in the roadway. The victim’s damaged wheelchair was still in the road and the vehicle and woman who hit Maravilla were both nearby.

“Maravilla suffered major injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital where he remains in critical condition,” said Mack. 

Officers who investigated the collision interviewed the driver who struck Maravilla and other other witnesses, who reported that just before the crash Maravilla was seen driving his electric wheelchair southbound on Willis St., “traveling in the middle of the road,” approaching Placer St., according to Mack.

At the same time, Joan Moynihan, 81, of Redding, was traveling westbound on Placer St. in her Honda Accord.

Based on witness statements, officers determined that Maravilla failed to stop at Placer St. and “suddenly entered” the intersection, directly into the path of Moynihan’s Honda.

Moynihan told officers investigating the collision that she was unable to avoid the collision and struck Maravilla.

The impact knocked Maravilla from his wheelchair and into the roadway, causing his critical injuries.

Moynihan was wearing her seat belt at the time of the collision and was uninjured.

Officers determined that drugs and/or alcohol intoxication were not contributing factors in the collision, but their investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Officer Mack at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R003028 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.