Speed, DUI suspected after Gilman Springs rollover

MORENO VALLEY — A man was hospitalized with minor injuries and later arrested after a solo-vehicle, rollover accident in the unincorporated Moreno Valley area, just north of San Jacinto, early yesterday evening, Friday, Aug. 30. According to witnesses, speed was a possible contributing factor after a sedan careened off the roadway and rolled at least three times while traveling on Gilman Springs Rd. near Bridge St. A CHP incident log indicated that driving under the influence is also suspected as a possible factor in the accident.

Yesterday’s accident happened in an area that recently received several safety upgrades in the form of two sets of double solid yellow lines; a center rumble strip; and bright white, center paddle markers with yellow reflectors. Despite the upgrades, the roadway continues to be the site of both major and fatal collisions, with the most recent head-on fatality claiming the lives of two people, while hospitalizing seven others Aug. 18.

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CHP, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, and AMR were dispatched to the scene of the crash around 5:10 p.m., after receiving multiple reports of a rollover accident.

911 callers reported seeing a speeding sedan that “flew off” the roadway and rolled multiple times, eventually coming to rest upside down and on its roof.

911 callers reported the vehicle rolled three times and that good Samaritans were working to free the trapped and injured driver, who was found still buckled into his seat. Janice Culp Martinez photo

One caller told emergency dispatchers the vehicle rolled at least three times, while another caller reported the driver and sole-occupant of the vehicle was still buckled into his seat and possibly trapped in the overturned sedan.

When CHP arrived minutes later, they confirmed finding a white Toyota Solara on its roof about 50 feet from the roadway. Several good Samaritans were trying to free the man from his car.

While firefighters worked at the scene officials briefly closed the eastbound lane of travel with their vehicles, but the lane was re-opened a short time later.

Fire and rescue vehicles briefly blocked the eastbound lanes of travel while officials worked at the scene of the crash. Janice Culp Martinez photo

The driver of the Toyota was eventually transported to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley for complaint of pain to his shoulder.

According to CHP’s incident log, while at the hospital an investigating officer requested toxicology tests to determine the man’s level of intoxication. The results of those tests were not immediately available and CHP’s investigation is ongoing.

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Trevor Montgomery, 48, 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.