UPDATE: Montgomery Creek man killed in SR-299E crash ID’d

October 16, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 3:48 p.m.

See Original Story below.

MONTGOMERY CREEK, Calif. — Officials have identified a man who died after a two-vehicle collision on SR-299E, just east of Moose Camp Rd., last Friday.

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According to a release from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy coroner investigator was dispatched to the scene around 2:15 p.m., about 25 minutes after the deadly crash was reported, according to Shasta County Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Stonehouse; who said, “The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel.”

The victim has since been identified as 65-year-old, Michael Lee Lemen, of Round Mountain.

The decedent’s next-of-kin has been notified and the postmortem examination has
been scheduled, according to Stonehouse.

The case remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the CHP – Redding Office at (530) 225-0500. Callers can refer to incident file number 9135-2020-00735 and can remain anonymous.

Original Story: Reckless driver & dog killed in two-vehicle SR-299E crash

MONTGOMERY CREEK, Calif. — Officials remain at the scene of a fatal, two-vehicle collision that happened on SR-299E, just east of Moose Camp Rd., earlier this afternoon, Friday, Oct. 16. According to witnesses, the driver of the pickup truck that caused the collision and a dog were killed in the accident.

In addition to the driver and dog that died at the scene, at least two other people were injured, including one person who was left temporarily trapped inside the second vehicle involved in the crash.

CHP, Cal Fire-Shasta and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene at 1:52 p.m., after receiving reports of a white, older Dodge pickup truck that had crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a vehicle described as a blue or grey Toyota sedan. A CHP helicopter also responded to the area to obtain overhead video and photographs of the fatal accident.

911 callers reported that after the initial collision, the truck careened off the roadway where it then smashed into a tree.

According to a CHP incident log, the driver of the Dodge truck that caused the collision was seen driving recklessly and repeatedly passing slower moving vehicles against the winding, two-lane mountain highway’s double yellow lines just before the deadly accident happened. However, CHP has not officially confirmed that information.

At least one person was killed in a two-vehicle crash involving a pickup truck that was seen driving recklessly and crossing the double yellow lines just before smashing into a passenger sedan in the area of SR-299E and Moose Camp Rd. Les Potter photo

When officials arrived they found the Toyota blocking the roadway with one person trapped inside the sedan, according firefighters who described the vehicle as having moderate driver’s side damage.

Cassel resident Kenny Klein, who witnessed the aftermath of the fatal crash, later told SCNS that when he passed the scene of the wreck firefighters were still working to extricate the deceased driver from the destroyed truck.

“The whole cab of the truck was smashed in, just flattened, and the truck looked like it folded in half,” Klein described; adding, “It looked like the truck may have rolled several times before hitting the tree, but there was so much damage it was hard to tell.”

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While officials worked at the scene, traffic quickly began backing up leading to lengthy delays, before CHP implemented one-way traffic control to allow motorists to slowly work their way past the scene of the deadly accident.

As of this initial report, both lanes had been reopened and traffic was moving freely, but slowly.

Officials are continuing to work at the scene and CHP’s investigation is continuing.

Officials have asked that anyone with additional information contact the CHP – Redding Office at (530) 225-0500. Callers can refer to incident file number 9135-2020-00735 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Contact the editor: [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.