UPDATE: SJ woman, 26, ID’d after deadly solo-vehicle crash

UPDATED: Sunday, Feb. 2, 5:50 p.m., With release of coroner’s identification.

SAN JACINTO — Officials have identified a San Jacinto woman who died when her vehicle plowed head-on into a tree in San Jacinto early Saturday morning, Feb. 1. The deadly, solo-vehicle crash happened on Cottonwood Ave., west of Lyon Ave.

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Fire and rescue personnel were first alerted to the fatal accident about 2:25 a.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan De Loss reported after the crash.

When officials arrived at the scene they found a silver, Toyota Camry that had plowed into a large tree along the south side of Cottonwood Ave, just west of Lyon Ave.

Paramedics found a woman and sole-occupant inside the wrecked Toyota. Despite providing the victim medical aid, the driver passed away at the scene of the crash.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Itzayana Valenzuela, 26, of San Jacinto, as the woman killed in the crash. A coroner’s release indicated she was pronounced deceased at 2:45 a.m.

Based on the circumstances, deputies assigned to the San Jacinto Sheriff Station’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation, according to De Loss.  

During their subsequent investigation, deputies determined that just before the accident, Valenzuela had been traveling eastbound on Cottonwood Ave.

As Valenzuela approached Lyon Ave., her vehicle “veered to the right, left the roadway, and struck a large tree,” De Loss explained.

While officials worked at the scene, they called for the temporary closure of eastbound Cottonwood Ave. at Ivy Crest Dr. The roadway remained closed for several hours and was re-opened around 6:30 a.m., according to De Loss. 

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Rutigliano at the San Jacinto station at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I200320007 and can remain anonymous.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 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 16 grandchildren.

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