UPDATE: Victim ID’d after car ripped in half, killing Anderson man

UPDATED: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 3:30 p.m., With coroner’s release of information.

Original Story published Monday, Oct. 5, 5:15 p.m.

ANDERSON, Calif. — An Anderson man was killed when he lost control of his speeding vehicle and crashed into a tree in Anderson early Friday morning, Oct. 2. The deadly, high-speed crash happened on Olinda Rd. near Hammer Ln.

The tremendous impact ripped the victim’s Corvette in half and fatally ejected the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred, according to CHP.

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Deputies hear gunshots in Round Mountain, find man’s body

CHP and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 3:30 a.m., after receiving reports of a fatal solo-vehicle accident.

When officials arrived they found a 1992 Chevrolet Corvette that had ripped in half after smashing at high speed into a tree. The victim was found to have been ejected from the sports car and was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel, according to CHP.

The victim has since been identified as 24-year-old, Damian Nicholas Sallee, of Anderson, Shasta County Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Stonehouse reported this morning.

During their subsequent investigation, officers determined Sallee was driving westbound on Olinda Rd. at a high rate of speed when he lost control, careened off the roadway, and smashed into a tree, ripping the car into two pieces.

Drug and/or alcohol intoxication have not been ruled out as possible contributing factors in the deadly accident and CHP’s investigation is continuing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash and has not yet provided a statement to authorities is encouraged to contact CHP – Redding at (530) 225-0500. Callers can refer to incident file number 9135-2020-00684 and can remain anonymous.


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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.