One dead after Beaumont crash
BEAUMONT, Calif. — California Highway Patrol has reported that a man was killed in a two-vehicle crash that happened in Beaumont early Wednesday evening, Nov. 4. A passenger from the second vehicle was hospitalized with complaints of pain after the deadly wreck that happened at the intersection of Brookside Avenue and Union Street.
A power pole that was knocked down in the collision caused localized power outages to many homes within the area, until Southern California Edison was able to replace the destroyed pole and repair the damaged power lines.
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CHP, Cal Fire – Riverside and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 6 p.m., after receiving reports of the collision.
When officials arrived they found two heavily damaged vehicles, described as a white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and yellow Ford Mustang.
Cody Kolkow, of Beaumont, was killed when another Beaumont resident pulled out in front of his vehicle at the intersection of Brookside Avenue and Union Street Wednesday evening, Nov. 4. CHP – San Gorgonio Pass photo
The Chevy had major front-end damage, while the Mustang was demolished and barely recognizable after it plowed broadside into a power pole, shearing the pole in half.
The driver and sole occupant of the Mustang, since identified as Beaumont resident, Cody Kolkow, “immediately succumbed to major injuries sustained in the collision and was pronounced deceased …by an AMR paramedic… prior to CHP’s arrival,” CHP later said of the fatal accident.
Although CHP reported Kolkow’s age as 19, a later coroner’s release indicated Kolkow’s age was 18.
The Chevrolet driver was not injured; however, his spouse who was in the right front passenger seat of the truck complained of pain and was transported to an area hospital, according to officials.
During their subsequent investigation CHP determined that just before the collision the driver of the Chevy, identified only as a 39-year-old Beaumont resident was traveling southbound on Union Street and had come to a stop at the posted stop sign at Brookside Avenue.
At the same time, Kolkow was traveling westbound on Brookside Avenue approaching Union Street intersection at a speed that has not yet been determined.
“The speed of the Ford as it approached the intersection is still under investigation,” said CHP.
According to statements gathered during their investigation, as the driver of the Chevrolet began to enter the intersection as the Ford approached, Kolkow veered to the left but was unable to avoid a collision with the pickup truck.
“The impact caused the Ford to rotate and continue in a westerly direction,” CHP described; adding, “The driver’s side of the Ford then collided with a wooden power pole and came to rest within a dirt field on the south side of Brookside Avenue.”
A power pole was sheared at its base when Kolkow’s Mustang plowed broadside into it, instantly killing him, according to officers who investigated the crash. The downed pole and damaged power lines caused power to be temporarily lost to many area residents. CHP – San Gorgonio Pass photo
The intersection was closed in all directions for several hours while CHP investigated the cause of the deadly crash and Southern California Edison worked to replace the damaged pole and restore power to the area.
Although drug and/or alcohol impairment on the part of the pickup truck driver did not appear to have contributed to this collision, CHP has said toxicology reports are pending for Kolkow.
CHP’s investigation is ongoing and officials have asked that anyone who may have witnessed the collision and has not yet provided a statement to authorities is encouraged to contact CHP’s San Gorgonio Pass Area Station at (951) 769-2000. Callers can refer to incident file number 11420201759965519346 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.