One dead after Hemet stolen vehicle pursuit, crash

HEMET, Calif. — Authorities say one of three people inside a stolen vehicle that led officers on a high-speed pursuit was ejected and suffered fatal injuries when the teenager driving the car lost control and crashed this morning, Saturday, Nov. 28.

Both the 15-year-old driver, who had a felony, no-bail warrant, and a second passenger were injured in the rollover wreck, but are expected to survive, according to officials.

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This morning’s deadly incident began around 7:48 a.m., when a City of Hemet police officer spotted a white Toyota sedan driving east in the 1700 block of W. Florida Avenue, Hemet Police Lieutenant Eric Dickson has since said of the fatal accident.

“The officer noticed that the vehicle matched the description of a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Desert Hot Springs but had been seen recently in Hemet,” said Dickson. “The officer checked the license plate of the vehicle and dispatch confirmed that it had been reported as stolen.”

Officials say one person was ejected and died at the scene after a stolen vehicle crashed while leading officers on a high-speed pursuit this morning. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

With officers following the vehicle, the stolen Toyota turned south onto Lyon Street and then west onto Acacia Avenue, where officers initiated a high-risk traffic stop in the 2000 block of W. Acacia Avenue.

When officers began giving the vehicle’s three occupants instructions, the driver suddenly sped away, at which time a vehicle pursuit was initiated.

Despite officers’ lights and sirens, the stolen vehicle continued to northbound Gilmore Street and then eastbound on Devonshire Avenue.

As the stolen vehicle approached Lyon Street, the driver failed to slow down for the posted ‘stop’ sign and nearly struck a northbound vehicle.

While swerving to avoid the other vehicle, the teen driving the stolen Toyota lost control “skidding north and east onto the north sidewalk where the vehicle rolled multiple times and struck a tree before coming to a stop,” Dickson described.

Officers continue to work at the scene while discussing this morning’s deadly crash in Hemet. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo

As the Toyota was overturning, one of the passengers was ejected and thrown from the vehicle onto the roadway, where he sustained critical injuries.

Officers immediately requested medical assistance and began life-saving measures; however, the ejected passenger succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.

The driver and front passenger were both transported to a local hospital for moderate injuries and both are both expected to recover, according to Dickson.

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As of this report, only the 15-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle had been positively identified, but due to age his name is being withheld as required by state law.

Officers later determined the teen had a felony no-bail warrant for his arrest, according to the Lieutenant; who did not specify what he was wanted for.

As of 12:30 p.m., the intersection of Lyon Street and Devonshire Avenue remained closed while officials continued their crash investigation.

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

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photos above, video below.


Eddie George/Hemet News video above.


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Contact the writer: [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.