Sanderson Ave. closed for 7 hours after major-injury crash

SAN JACINTO — Multiple people were injured and hospitalized after a major-injury traffic collision in San Jacinto early this morning, Wednesday, Aug. 7. The crash, which involved a small passenger vehicle and a tandem trailer big-rig, happened on Sanderson Ave. north of Ramona Expressway, according to officials.

The two-vehicle crash caused Sanderson Ave. to be closed for about seven hours and caused a traffic nightmare with frustrated commuters and area residents later reporting delays of up to several hours.

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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, along with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene of the crash about 2:10 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan De Loss later reported.

When officials arrived at the location they found a silver Toyota coupe and a semi-truck pulling tandem “bottom-dump” trailers wrecked at the scene. Both vehicles sustained “major damage,” according to De Loss.

Officials say a Toyota swerved into oncoming traffic and was struck by an oncoming tandem trailer big-rig pulling “bottom-dump” trailers. Albert Paul Lopez photo

“All occupants of the vehicles were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries,” the Sgt. explained; saying, “The occupants of the Toyota are in serious condition.”

Based on the circumstances, members of San Jacinto Station’s Collision Reconstruction Team responded and assumed the investigation. 

During their preliminary, on-scene investigation deputies determined the Toyota had been traveling southbound on N. Sanderson Ave. just before the collision. At the same time, a semi-truck towing “bottom dump” trailers was traveling north in the number two lane of traffic, De Loss explained. 

“The Toyota veered to the right then to the left consequently crossing into the northbound lanes of traffic,” De Loss continued.  “The two vehicles collided in the northbound lanes causing major damage to both vehicles.”

During their investigation, deputies called for the temporary closure of Sanderson Ave., from Ramona Expressway to Gilman Springs Rd. The roadway remained closed for nearly seven hours and was re-opened around 9 a.m., according to De Loss.

While investigating the cause of the crash and clearing the roadway, officials called for the closure of N. Sanderson Ave., causing significant delays of up to several hours for area commuters. Norma Jean photo

The crash and subsequent investigation caused significant delays, with some commuters and area residents reporting delays of up to several hours, as vehicles were diverted away from the accident scene onto other area roads.

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this collision or who witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact Deputy Cox at the San Jacinto Station at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I192190004 and 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.