Hemet pedestrian, 30, ID’d after fatally struck by car

UPDATED: Saturday, June 27, 1 p.m.

See Original Story below.

HEMET, Calif. — Officials continuing to investigate a fatal vehicle versus pedestrian collision that occurred Thursday, June 24 have identified the victim killed in the accident.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials this morning identified Anthony Palacio, 30, of Hemet, as the pedestrian killed in last Thursday’s collision. A coroner’s release indicated Palacio was pronounced deceased by medical staff at Hemet Global Medical Center at 7:58 p.m., about 45 minutes after the accident occurred.

During their subsequent investigation, Hemet police officers learned that just before the collision, Ismael Baez, 34, of San Bernardino, was driving his 2002 Honda Civic west on Mountain Ave. approaching N. Soboba St., Hemet Police Sgt. Dan Reinbolt has since reported.

At the same time, Palacio was walking along the north roadway edge of Mountain Ave., according to the Sgt.

“As Mr. Baez approached, the pedestrian suddenly ran out from the roadway edge and entered the westbound lane of traffic where a collision occurred,” explained Reinbolt; who said Baez is not suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During their investigation, Mountain Ave was closed to vehicular traffic in both directions between Soboba and Lake street. for approximately four hours.

Hemet PD’s investigation is ongoing.


Original Story: Hemet pedestrian dies after struck by car

HEMET, Calif. — Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly collision after a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a car in Hemet early yesterday evening, Thursday, June 24.

Despite extensive life-saving efforts after the deadly collision, which happened on Mountain Ave., east of N. Soboba St., the pedestrian later succumbed to their injuries and passed away.

LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:

Major injuries reported after Temecula rollover hit and run

CHP officer arrested on suspicion of workers’ compensation fraud

Illegal San Jacinto BHO lab explosion injures two

Driver, 88, ID’d after deadly Eastvale collision

Emergency personnel were alerted to the collision around 7:15 p.m., after an AMR ambulance crew reportedly happened upon the accident moments after it happened.

The ambulance crew found the unresponsive victim still down in the lanes of traffic and located the vehicle that struck the pedestrian stopped nearby.

The vehicle, described as a dark-colored Honda had sustained major front-end damage from the impact and its front windshield was crushed inwards.

Officials are investigating a deadly collision after a pedestrian was struck by a car on Mountain Ave. near N. Soboba St. yesterday evening. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

AMR medics immediately began CPR on the gravely injured pedestrian while requesting additional resources to the scene, including Hemet PD, City of Firefighters, and an “ALS” ambulance crew, able to perform advanced life saving measures.

Based on the victim’s extensive injuries, a battalion chief at the scene requested a Mercy Air Ambulance respond to life-flight the victim to an area trauma center.

While paramedics continued performing CPR and providing life-saving measures at the scene, officers shut down Soboba Rd., diverting all traffic away from the scene of the ongoing efforts to save the pedestrian.

Officials soon learned the nearest Mercy Air Ambulance was already performing a life-flight for a woman who was critically burned after an illegal honey oil lab exploded at a San Jacinto residence.

Because the next closest Mercy Air Ambulance was nearly 40 minutes away in Big Bear, officials elected to transport the victim by ground ambulance to an area hospital.

SEE RELATED: Illegal San Jacinto BHO lab explosion injures two

Paramedics were still actively performing CPR and other life-saving efforts when the pedestrian was transported from the scene. (See video below.)

Officials later reported the victim, who has not been identified pending further investigation and notification of the person’s family, passed away from their major traumatic injuries.

Paramedics were continuing to perform CPR and providing other life-saving measures when the pedestrian was transported from the scene. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

Officers who investigated the deadly collision determined the Honda was traveling westbound at an unknown speed on Mountain Ave., when the vehicle struck the pedestrian.

According to witnesses at the scene, the driver told officials he was unable to stop in time after the pedestrian “jumped out into the middle of the road” just before being struck.

Hemet PD is continuing to investigate the cause of yesterday’s fatal accident and have asked that anyone with additional information or who witnessed all or part of the collision and has not yet provided a statement to contact Hemet PD at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photos above, video below


This article sponsored by:

For more information, contact Bill Tyler at Century 21 Full Realty Service.


Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.


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.