Driver ID’d after fatal Hwy 74 crash into street sweeper

LAKE ELSINORE — A Riverside woman suffered fatal injuries after crashing into a street sweeper in Lake Elsinore early Friday morning, Mar. 8. The deadly crash happened on Highway 74, between Ardenwood Way and Rosetta Canyon Dr.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Linda Diaz, 30, of Riverside, as the victim of the fatal collision. A coroner’s release indicated she passed away at the scene of the crash and was pronounced deceased at 3:58 a.m.

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Deputies assigned to Lake Elsinore Police Station and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the early morning accident just after 3:30 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. James Woodland later reported.

When officials arrived they found a Toyota SUV that had collided with a street sweeping vehicle. Paramedics determined the driver of the SUV had already succumbed to her injuries and she was pronounced deceased a the scene.

Based on the circumstances, Lake Elsinore PD’s Traffic Team responded to the scene to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fatal collision.

During their investigation, deputies called for the temporary, full closure of Hwy. 74 in both directions. The roadway was reopened about six hours later, according to Woodland.

Although Lake Elsinore PD’s investigation is ongoing, neither alcohol or drug intoxication are suspected to be contributing factors in the collision, said Woodland.

Anyone with further information about this investigation or who witnesses the collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Willow at the Lake Elsinore Police Department at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L190670011 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.