Hemet woman, 78, killed in Perris head-on crash

November 3, 2019 Trevor Montgomery

PERRIS — A Hemet woman was killed and several other people were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on traffic collision in Perris Friday afternoon, Nov. 1. The deadly crash happened at the intersection of W. 4th St. and Navajo Rd.

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Deputies from the Perris Sheriff’s Station, along with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and other emergency personnel, responded to the scene of the crash at 11:24 am, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Marshall reported after the deadly collision.

When officials arrived they found two wrecked vehicles, described as a Ford F-150 and Nissan Frontier, with vehicle parts and debris spread throughout the intersection.

Medical personnel treated at least four victims injured in the collision before transporting them to Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley for further treatment.

Despite life-saving efforts one of the passengers, since identified as Marina “Marinita” Pena De Reyes, 78, of Hemet, succumbed to her injuries and passed away at the hospital. A coroner’s release indicated the victim was pronounced deceased at 12:46 p.m.

Marina “Marinita” Pena De Reyes, 78, of Hemet, was killed Friday afternoon in Perris when another vehicle crashed into the vehicle she was a passenger in. GoFundMe photo

Based on the circumstances, members of Perris Station’s Traffic Team responded to the intersection and assumed the investigation.

During their subsequent investigation Traffic Team members determined that just before the crash a Ford F-150 was stopped facing eastbound in the left turn lane on W. 4th St., waiting to turn northbound on Navajo Rd. At the same time another motorist was driving a Nissan Frontier westbound on W. 4th St.

As the driver of the F-150 was waiting to turn the driver of the Nissan veered into the turn lane striking the other vehicle head-on, causing the victim’s fatal injuries, according to Marshall.

Although the sheriff’s investigation is ongoing, officials have said alcohol and/or drug intoxication did not appear to be factors in the deadly collision.

Family and friends of the victim have created a GoFundMe account to help deal with burial costs and other expenses.

Anyone who may have witnessed this crash and has not been interviewed is encouraged to call Deputy Hamilton at the Perris Sheriff’s Station at (951) 210-1078. Callers can refer to incident file number PE193050065 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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 or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; 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 29 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.