Jurupa Valley crash leads to DUI arrest
JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. — A man was arrested for driving under the influence after he lost control of his vehicle and struck a light pole, tree and traffic signal box at the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street Sunday evening, Nov. 7.
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Deputies from the Jurupa Valley and Eastvale Sheriff’s Stations, along with Cal Fire – Riverside and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene around 9:45 p.m., after receiving reports of a traffic collision with subject(s) trapped.
When officials arrived they found a white pickup truck with heavy front-end damage that had mowed down a concrete light pole before hitting a large palm tree and then smashing into a traffic light signal box. Vehicle parts and debris were spread for hundreds of feet, leaving much of the roadway blocked and impassable.
Eric Demerath was arrested for DUI after a crash that knocked down a light pole and left vehicle parts and debris spread across hundreds of feet along Van Buren Avenue Sunday night. Raincross Media photos
By the time officials arrived, the driver who had been reported trapped, since identified as 42-year-old, Eric Gregory Demerath, had already managed to exit his wrecked vehicle and appeared to be uninjured. He was evaluated by paramedics at the scene but declined further medical attention.
During their subsequent investigation, deputies determined Demerath, who was the sole occupant of the pickup truck, had been travelling northbound on Van Buren Avenue when he plowed through a light pole knocking it down, clipped a palm tree and finally came to rest after hitting the traffic signal box.
Another vehicle may have been involved in the series of collisions; however no information about that vehicle or its driver was immediately available.
Deputies who responded to Sunday night’s crash found a trail of destruction that spanned hundreds of feet and ultimately arrested the driver who caused the collision on suspicion of driving under the influence. Raincross Media photo
Deputies evaluated the driver on scene and determined he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Based on their evaluation, deputies arrested Demerath and he was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of DUI.
Online jail records indicate he was released within hours of his arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside Hall Of Justice on April 7.
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While officials worked at the scene both directions of Clay Street were closed at Van Buren Avenue.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the collision and has not yet provided a statement to authorities is encouraged to contact the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number JV203120144 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.