Naked and running across I-215, man fatally struck by vehicles

SAN BERNARDINO — A naked man who was seen running back and forth across I-215 in San Bernardino died after he was struck by at least two vehicles Tuesday evening, March 19. The bizarre and deadly incident happened between Mill St. and Auto Center Dr., and caused the hours-long closure of the southbound I-215.

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CHP was first alerted to the situation shortly before 10 p.m., when they began receiving multiple reports of a black male adult who was running within the lanes of travel on the 215 Freeway.

911 callers reported seeing the man run from the right side of the northbound lanes to the center divider and back several times. Callers then reported the man jumped over the center divider, where he then began running in the southbound lanes of the freeway.

While CHP was still responding to the area, they learned the man was nearly struck by a big-rig tanker, before he was struck and run over by at least two passenger vehicles, according to a CHP incident log.

When officials arrived at the scene they determined the man had sustained major traumatic injuries and medical personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.

The man has been described as a 30-year-old San Bernardino resident; however officials have not released his name, pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.

CHP immediately called for the closure of all southbound lanes of the freeway and began diverting traffic away from the accident scene. The freeway remained closed for several hours, until the conclusion of CHP’s initial, on-scene investigation.

During their investigation, CHP learned Chassandra Montanez, 28, of Colton, was driving a 2004 gray Audi A6 southbound on the 215 Freeway near Auto Center Dr., when the Audi struck the naked victim. The impact threw the man into other lanes of traffic, where his body was then struck and run over by a 2003 White Toyota Camry being driven by Shawntae Smith, 31, of Victorville.

Both drivers who struck the man, as well as the big-rig driver who narrowly avoided hitting the victim, immediately pulled over and stopped on the right shoulder area of the freeway. All three drivers were reportedly cooperating with CHP’s investigation and none were arrested or cited at the scene.

CHP is still investigating the cause of the deadly incident and have asked that anyone with information regarding their investigation to contact Officer Adels at the San Bernardino CHP Office at (909) 383-4247. Callers 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.