One dead, one hospitalized after Cabazon rollover
CABAZON — One man was killed and another hospitalized after a loaded box truck overturned off the I-10 freeway in Cabazon and slammed into two trees yesterday morning, Wednesday, June 5. Yesterday morning’s accident was reported just before 7:30 a.m., on the eastbound I-10, west of Main St.
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Officers who investigated the crash learned Michael Seifert, a 36-year-old San Bernardino resident was driving a white, 2003 Isuzu box truck eastbound on the I-10. With Seifert was a 57-year-old Yucaipa resident.
The box truck, which is registered to California Showcase Construction, was loaded with supplies and equipment and the two men were on their way to a jobsite in Indio, according to CHP.
Just before the crash, Seifert was traveling about 70 mph in the eastbound in the slow, number four lane. For an unknown reason, Seifert allowed the Isuzu to drift off the south road edge and onto the dirt shoulder. He then lost control of the truck as he attempted to steer it back into the eastbound lanes. The vehicle then careened off the highway and over the south embankment, where it collided with at least two trees.
Neither Seifert or and his passenger were wearing seat belts when the crash occurred.
One man was killed and another hospitalized after a rollover accident on I-10 in Cabazon yesterday. CHP – San Gorgonio Pass photo
The 57-year-old passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by Cal-Fire paramedics at the scene. The driver, Michael Seifert, was ground transported by AMR to Desert Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. The victim who died at the scene has not yet been publicly identified, pending notification of the person’s family.
Alcohol, drugs, distraction, mechanical failure and/or fatigue have not been ruled out as contributing factors in the cause of this collision, according to CHP.
The number four lane was closed for about four hours as CHP personnel investigated the collision scene.
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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.