UPDATE: One dead after Murrieta pursuit-related crash that seriously injured officer
UPDATED: Friday, Oct. 2, 2:30 p.m.,
See Original Story below.
MURRIETA, Calif. — One of two people inside a car that led Murrieta police officers on a high-speed pursuit that ended in a spectacular rollover crash involving three vehicles has passed away, coroner officials announced today. The person who passed away was a passenger in the pursued vehicle, Murrieta Police Lt. Ron Driscoll told RCNS in a telephone interview this afternoon.
The early morning pursuit, which began after an officer attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop, ended when the fleeing vehicle ran a red light and plowed into another vehicle at the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Los Alamos Rd.
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The impact of that collision sent the second vehicle into an oncoming patrol SUV, which overturned when the two vehicles collided, leaving a police officer seriously injured and trapped inside his overturned vehicle. After being extricated from his mangled SUV, the officer was airlifted to an area trauma center with injuries later described as major.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials this morning identified Keshon Manning, 25, of Desert Hot Springs, as the man who died in the collision. A coroner’s release indicated he passed away about twelve hours after he was rushed to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries. His time of death was listed as 3:20 p.m.
Citing privacy concerns, Driscoll was not able to provide any updates regarding the driver who fled from officers and caused the collision that killed his passenger; or the other two citizens injured in the deadly crash.
Driscoll did however update that the one-year uniform patrol officer seriously injured in the collision, since identified by family members as Matthew Guzzino, remains hospitalized in stable condition. Out of respect for the officer’s family, he declined to provide any further details or information about the full extent of Guzinno’s injuries or ongoing treatment.
However, in a gofundme account created to raise money for Guzinno’s ongoing medical expenses and extensive expected recovery Jeremy Durrant explained, “His road to recovery will likely be a long journey, requiring several surgeries and physical therapy.”
“Matt is a dedicated public servant and has given so much to the communities he’s worked for that we’d like to give back in this time of need to support his recovery and the needs of his family in the meantime,” Durant continued.
The account, which was created just eight hours before this update, had already surpassed the originally listed $10,000 goal and had raised more than $13,000 as of this afternoon.
“Wow,” Durant enthused in an update on the fundraising account this morning; adding the “campaign hasn’t even been open for a full day and we’ve already reached our initial goal!”
“You all have been extremely generous and we are very appreciative for everything donated so far,” Durant continued. “It’s examples like this that show just how strong our community is and how quickly we can rally together to take care of those in need. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far and to those who plan on donating in the future.”
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Regarding any possible charges the driver who fled might be facing, Driscoll said that is a matter that will be reviewed and handled by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
“Once all the details have been gathered and finalized regarding this complicated and ongoing investigation, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will make a determination regarding any potential charges related to the driver who fled from officers,” Driscoll explained; referring all further questions to the District Attorney’s office.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Original Article: Five people, including Murrieta officer, hospitalized after pursuit-related crash
MURRIETA, Calif. — Authorities say five people, including a Murrieta police officer, were hospitalized after a high-speed pursuit ended in a three-vehicle rollover wreck early this morning, Thursday, Oct. 1.
The officer involved in the collision was left trapped inside his overturned patrol SUV and had to be cut free from his destroyed vehicle before he was airlifted to an area trauma center, according to authorities; who said the officer sustained “major injuries” but was expected to survive.
Officials say a Murrieta vehicle pursuit led to a chain-reaction rollover crash that left a Murieta police officer seriously injured and trapped inside his patrol SUV. After being extricated from his vehicle, the officer was airlifted to an area trauma center with injuries described as major. Joe Fanaselle photo
This morning’s incident began just after 3 a.m., when a Murrieta police officer attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Jefferson Ave. and Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. in the City of Murrieta.
“The driver of the vehicle failed to stop for the officer, and (a) vehicle pursuit ensued,” Murrieta Police Lt. Ron Driscoll has since said in a social media release.
Ignoring the officer’s lights and sirens, the driver accelerated and traveled northbound on Jefferson Ave. toward the intersection of Los Alamos Rd., where the fleeing vehicle plowed into another car.
“The (pursued) vehicle rolled with forward momentum as the result of the collision and crossed the southbound lane of Jefferson Ave.,” Driscoll described; saying, “The vehicle collided with another Murrieta Police officer who was responding in his patrol vehicle on southbound Jefferson Ave. to assist with the pursuit.”
The impact of the second collision caused the officer’s patrol vehicle to overturn, trapping the seriously injured officer, and left vehicle parts and debris scattered throughout the intersection.
“The officer involved in the second traffic collision was extricated from his patrol vehicle and was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment of major injuries,” said Driscoll; adding, “The officer’s injuries are not considered life threatening.”
This morning’s pursuit-related crash left a Murrieta PD vehicle overturned with vehicle parts and debris scattered through the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Los Alamos Rd. Joe Fanaselle photo
Two people who were inside the vehicle that fled from officers sustained major injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment, according to the Lt.
The two occupants from the vehicle that was involved in the initial and secondary traffic collisions sustained minor to moderate injuries and were transported to a regional hospital for treatment.
None of the involved people’s names have been released yet.
Based on the circumstances, investigators from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and have assumed the investigation.
The Murrieta Police Department’s Traffic Bureau and Detective Bureau will also be assisting with the “fluid” investigation, according to Driscoll; who said, “More information will follow as the investigation progresses.”
Four other people involved in this morning’s crash sustained injuries ranging from minor to major and all four were hospitalized, according to Murrieta PD’s Lt. Ron Driscoll.
During their subsequent hours-long on-scene investigation, officers called for the closure of Jefferson Avenue in both directions, between Juniper St. and Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., and Los Alamos Rd./Ivy St. was shut down between Adams and Madison avenues.
Anyone with information regarding this traffic collision is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Ron Driscoll at (951) 461-6377 or by email. You can also provide information anonymously through “We Tip” at 1-800-78-CRIME.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.
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Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 49, 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.
It’s “Major Accident Investigation Team” (MAIT). Not Multidisciplinary….
Hi there Joe,
While many, if not most, other agencies have specialized traffic reconstruction bureaus referred to as “Major Accident Investigation Team’s” – or MAIT, Murrieta PD very specifically refers to MAIT as the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team. In this case, that was the exact verbiage they used in their press release.
That being said, if it was CHP’s MAIT that handled the investigation, you are correct. CHP refers to their MAIT as the Major Accident Investigation Team.
Best wishes,
-TM
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Was the name of the driver ever released?