Two dead, six injured, after trio of crashes over two days rock Anza Valley
ANZA VALLEY, Calif. — Anza valley area residents are reeling after three crashes that occurred during a roughly 24-hour period over the weekend claimed the lives of two people and hospitalized six others. All three accidents happened within a ten-mile section of SR-79S and SR-371, which connects Temecula and Palm Desert, and passes through several unincorporated communities, including Anza, Aguanga, Sage and others.
The first two crashes, which left one person dead and three injured, happened near the intersection of SR-371 and Barbara Trail, while the third and most recent collision happened on SR-79S, just west of Dugan Dr., and killed one while injuring three.
According to CHP, both of the deadly crashes involved drivers who were speeding and either purposely, or due to their unsafe driving actions accidentally, crossed sets of double solid yellow lines into oncoming traffic, causing the collisions.
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The first of the three crashes happened around 1:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon, on SR-371, just west of Barbara Trail, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.
When officials arrived they found a 2017 Subaru CrossTrek with major side-impact and rollover damage about forty feet down an embankment. Also at the scene was a 2015 Kia Optima with heavy front-end damage.
CHP and Cal Fire-Riverside officials have said the driver of the Subaru succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Christian Gomez Barraza, 27, of Palm Desert, as the person killed in the collision. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 2:05 p.m.
Two occupants from the Kia, described as 19 and 24-year-old San Jacinto residents were both injured in the collision and were transported to inland Valley Medical Center. CHP described the couple’s injuries as moderate and major.
During their subsequent investigation, CHP determined that just before the crash Barraza had been traveling westbound on a curved and graded portion of SR-371.
“Barraza was traveling at an unsafe speed and was unable to maintain control of his Subaru while traveling through the curve in the roadway,” explained Lassig.
Barraza’s unsafe speed caused the Subaru to spin out of control, propelling his vehicle across a set of solid double yellow lines directly into the path of the oncoming Kia. Unable to avoid the collision, the Kia plowed into the passenger side of the Subaru.
The force of the impact caused the Subaru to roll approximately forty feet down a dirt embankment before coming to rest back on its wheels, according to Lassig.
The deceased driver was left trapped inside the wreckage of the Subaru and firefighters had to physically extricate his body from the vehicle.
A man was airlifted with serious injuries after a solo-vehicle rollover crash along SR-371 near Barbara Trail. Another accident at the same location the previous afternoon claimed the life of one person and sent three others to an area trauma center. Johnathan Schmidt photo
The second crash occurred along the same section of SR-371 early Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire-Riverside officials; who said the accident was reported shortly before 6 a.m.
A CHP incident log indicated the accident wreckage was spotted by a passing motorcycle rider who stopped and used a hammer to break open the vehicle’s window so he could check on the trapped and injured driver.
Sources familiar with the crash and subsequent investigation have reported that the rider, Johnathan Schmidt from Anza, waited with the injured driver; providing him aid and comfort until officials arrived.
Once at the scene, officials began working to extricate the trapped victim from his vehicle.
Based on the severity of the man’s injuries, officials requested an air ambulance; at which time a Reach Air Ambulance was launched to a landing zone near Lake Riverside Estates.
The victim, since identified only as a Hemet resident, was then airlifted to Inland Valley Medical Center with serious injuries.
One person was killed and three others were injured in a fiery wreck along SR-79S, west of Dugan Dr., in Aguanga. David Carillo photo
The final collision, which left one person dead and three others injured, occurred Sunday afternoon around 3:15 p.m., CHP Officer Mike Lassig has since said of the deadly crash.
911 callers reportedly told emergency dispatchers that one of the vehicles became fully engulfed in flames and that witnesses and good Samaritans were attempting to extinguish the blaze with fire extinguishers.
When officials arrived they found the burning wreckage of two vehicles, since described by CHP as a Dodge Challenger and 2018 Subaru Outback.
While firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, paramedics began treating those injured in the collision.
Despite life-saving efforts, the passenger of the Subaru succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have identified David Schulberg, 60, of Aguanga, as the man who died in the fiery wreck. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased by paramedics at 3:54 p.m.
Three other people, including the driver of the Subaru and two occupants from the Dodge, were transported to Inland Valley Medical Center with injuries ranging from moderate to major.
SEE RELATED: One killed, three injured in fiery Aguanga wreck
During their subsequent investigation, CHP interviewed several witnesses and determined the 29-year-old driver of the Dodge, whose name has not been released, was driving northbound on SR-79S just before the deadly crash. With him inside his car was a 17-year-old female from Temecula, according to CHP.
At the same time, a 50-year-old un-named Aguanga woman along with Schulberg were driving southbound on the highway approaching the Dodge.
According to Lassig, as the Dodge was traveling behind slower-moving traffic on a downhill, curved portion of roadway, the driver became impatient and crossed the solid double yellow lines directly into the path of the oncoming Subaru, causing the two vehicles to collide head-on.
The impact caused at least one of the vehicles to burst into flames, according to officials, who said the collision left both directions of travel blocked and impassable.
In the wake of the trio of accidents, area residents and those who have to use the two roads to commute to and from work railed against unsafe and impatient drivers, who continually place other peoples’ lives in danger due to their reckless driving actions.
“It is far too prevalent lately,” Deborah Clevers of Aguanga wrote regarding the ongoing problems along the curved section of Hwy 371, between Barbara Trail and Sorenson; an area she described as “blood alley”.
“It is all very disturbing and disappointing they don’t know any better,” continued Clevers.
“Omg this crap happens all the time! It’s got to stop,” Temecula resident Amanda Lozano wrote in response to the collisions and ongoing problem of reckless drivers along the highway.
“I’m scared for my teen to start driving,” continued Lozano; who said she was once struck by another driver who illegally attempted to pass slower moving vehicles against a double set of solid yellow lines.
Saying she travels Hwy 371 and leaves an hour early every day so she won’t be late for work, area resident Dottie Blanks wrote, “Even at 4:45 a.m., I get passed by people – it’s crazy.”
“I go 65 and that is still too to slow I guess,” continued Blanks. “Then those people that passed me still end up (stuck) a car or two ahead the whole way down the hill.”
“What was the point of putting all of our lives in danger?” Blanks asked; saying, “All I wanna do is get to work and home safely.”
“We all just have to be vigilant and get info and report as we can, and for goodness sake, keep your eyes open and stay safe out there,” wrote William Hamlett.
The retired Marine, whose daughter recently began driving, continued, “It is absolutely terrifying to me, for her, my wife, and everyone of us that have to drive these roads”, which he described as being “more dangerous than the freeways!”
CHP is continuing to investigate the cause of the three crashes and has since used the opportunity to remind area residents “to always be mindful of speed … and … never cross over double yellow lines.”
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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.