Two hospitalized after Hemet “T-Bone” crash
HEMET — A couple was hospitalized this morning, Sunday, July 14, after a vehicle reportedly ran a red light and plowed broadside into their car as they were leaving Hemet’s Winco parking lot at the intersection of Florida Ave and Promenade Dr.
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City of Hemet Police and Fire Departments, along with two AMR ambulances, were dispatched to the crash about 10:35 a.m., after receiving reports of the “T-Bone” collision. Callers reported that two people were inside both the two vehicles and that two of the victims were injured.
When officials arrived they found a yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser with moderate front-end damage and a white Kia Soul that was heavily damaged. The Kia was blocking the westbound lanes of traffic and the Toyota had come to rest some distance away, and was left blocking one of the eastbound lanes of travel along Florida Ave.
Officials closed down the westbound lanes while they worked at the scene, as well as one of the eastbound lanes, where the wrecked Toyota had ended.
Paramedics treated the two injured victims from the Kia before both were transported to Hemet Valley Hospital for further evaluation and treatment of their unspecified injuries. The driver and passenger of the Toyota were evaluated at the scene but declined further medical treatment.
Witnesses later reported the Kia was pulling out of the Winco parking lot onto Florida Ave. with a green light when the Toyota ran a red light and smashed broadside into the Kia. The impact caused the Toyota to careen out of control, and it jumped the raised center median before spinning into the oncoming lanes of traffic, where it eventually came to a stop.
It was not immediately known if the driver of the Toyota was cited for running the red light, but an officer at the scene reported that alcohol or drug intoxication were not suspected as contributing factors in the crash.
Hemet PD’s accident investigation is ongoing.
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Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photos and videos
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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.