Two dead after fiery, head-on Ramona Expressway crash

SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Two people have died after a fiery, head-on collision involving two vehicles in San Jacinto early yesterday morning, Saturday, Aug. 8.

Both victims died at the scene of yesterday’s fatal accident, which happened in the area of Ramona Expressway west of Warren Rd., according to sheriff’s and Cal Fire officials.

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Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, along with Cal Fire-Riverside and AMR, were dispatched to the scene around 5:40 a.m., after receiving reports of the collision, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Heath has since said of the deadly accident.

When deputies arrived they found two wrecked vehicles, including black Kia Spectra that was fully engulfed in flames and a dark-colored Ford Expedition in the middle of the road.

Vehicle parts and debris were spread across the roadway, leaving it impassable and forcing commuters and area residents to choose alternate routes away from the scene of the crash.

Two drivers died after a head-on crash on Ramona Expressway that caused one of the vehicles to burst into flames early yesterday morning. Keianna Wilson-Capers photos

Cal Fire arrived moments later and had extinguished the vehicle fire shortly before 6 a.m., at which time officials discovered a deceased subject inside the Kia.

The driver and sole occupant of the Ford was found trapped inside the SUV and was suffering from critical injuries. Despite life-saving efforts and being extricated from the wrecked Ford, the subject succumbed to their injuries and also passed away at the scene.

Neither victims have been publicly named, pending positive identification and notification of their families, according to officials. 

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

During their subsequent investigation, deputies determined that just before the head-on crash the Kia had been traveling westbound on Ramona Expressway while the Ford was traveling eastbound.

“For unknown reasons, the Kia drifted over the double-yellow line and struck the Ford head-on,” Heath later explained. “The driver of the Kia was unable to the exit the vehicle and was discovered after the vehicle fire was extinguished.”

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While deputies, firefighters and other emergency personnel worked at the scene they called for the temporary closure of Ramona Expressway, between Warren Rd. and Bridge St. The roadway was re-opened around four and a half hours later about 10:15 a.m. 

Anyone with information regarding this collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Cox at the San Jacinto Station at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I202180091 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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