Sheriff’s volunteer injured after DUI driver plows into crash investigation

UPDATED: Tuesday, Aug. 6, 7:18 p.m., With additional details from sheriff’s department.

JURUPA VALLEY — Three people, including a pedestrian who suffered potentially life-threatening injuries and a sheriff’s volunteer who sustained minor injuries, are continuing to recover after a pair of crashes Friday evening, Aug. 2.

Officials were investigating a vehicle versus pedestrian collision in the area of Limonite Ave. and Pedley Rd. when an allegedly drunk driver plowed through a road closure and smashed into a marked sheriff’s patrol vehicle, injuring herself and the sheriff’s volunteer.

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Deputies assigned to the city of Jurupa Valley responded to a major injury traffic collision at 9:47 p.m., after receiving reports of a pedestrian that was stuck by a vehicle traveling east on Limonite Ave., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Julio De Leon has since reported.

The pedestrian was ultimately transported to an area hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.

As sheriff’s officials were investigating the cause of the collision, they called for the temporary closure of Limonite Ave. The road was closed in both directions between Pedley Rd. and Baldwin Ave. to ensure the safety of officials working at the scene of the crash.

“A Sheriff’s Department volunteer in a marked Sheriff’s Department vehicle was on Limonite Ave. and Baldwin Ave., behind road closure barriers, when his vehicle was struck by a suspected female DUI driver,” De Leon explained. 

The Sheriff’s Department volunteer sustained minor injuries in the collision. 

The suspected DUI driver was transported to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to De Leon; who said, “She is expected to be charged with felony DUI charges.”

Because of the ongoing investigation, officials have not released the names of any of the involved parties.

The Jurupa Valley Station used the opportunity to remind drivers contemplating driving impaired that, if arrested, they can expect fines and fees in excess of $13,500.  “This includes court-imposed fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other related expenses,” explained De Leon. 

“Those who injure another party while driving impaired may face felony DUI charges and additional fines and fees,” De Leon continued. “Those who kill another person while driving impaired may face murder charges.”

“In addition to criminal sanctions, DUI drivers may also be subject to civil liability if their actions result in property damage, injury or death,” the Sgt. explained.

Anyone who witnessed either of these collisions or has information that may be helpful to these investigations, is encouraged to contact Deputy Petersen at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file numbers JV192140173 or JV192150007and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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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 currently writes for or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, the (now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Hemet & San Jacinto 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.