Redlands motorcyclist killed in crash – DUI driver arrested
UPDATED: Sunday, Nov. 29, 1:35 p.m. With coroner’s release of information.
Originally published: Tuesday, Nov. 24.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Authorities say a motorcyclist was killed when an allegedly intoxicated driver made a U-Turn in front of the rider Saturday evening, Nov. 21.
The deadly accident, which led to the driver’s arrest, happened in the 400 block of Judson Street, south of Laramie Avenue, according to officials.
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City of Redlands Police and Fire Departments were alerted to the collision around 6:30 p.m., after receiving reports of an accident involving a motorcycle and passenger vehicle, according to official releases from the police department and coroner’s office.
When officials arrived they found a critically injured motorcyclist who had crashed into 2012 Nissan Altima and was wedged underneath the vehicle.
After being pulled from underneath the vehicle the rider, since identified as Eric Figueroa, 38, of Redlands, was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment. Despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
Based on the circumstances, members of Redlands PD’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
During their subsequent investigation, officials determined Figueroa was riding his motorcycle north on Judson Street when the driver of the Nissan, 27-year-old Andrew Justin Vasquez, pulled away from the curb and made a U-turn directly in front of Figueroa’s motorcycle. Trying to avoid a collision, Figueroa laid his motorcycle down where he then crashed into Vasquez’ vehicle and became trapped under the car.
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While interviewing Vasquez, officers determined he was under the influence.
Based on their investigation, officers arrested Vasquez and he was later booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter with his bail set at $250,000.
Online jail records indicate Vasquez was released from custody Nov. 24.
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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.