Two women dead, third injured after Hemet hit and run – DUI driver arrested

December 13, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Saturday, Dec. 12, 11:50 p.m., With additional details and photos

HEMET, Calif. — Two women were killed and a third was seriously injured when an allegedly intoxicated driver plowed into the back of their vehicle as it sat at a red light in Hemet early this morning, Saturday, Dec. 12.

Although none of the women have been publicly identified, sources familiar with the investigation and others who knew the three victims have told RCNS that all three women were friends employed at the same Hemet Lowes; located less than one mile from where the deadly crash occurred.

A Lowes manager has since confirmed that crisis and grief counselors were brought into the Lowes store by Saturday evening to help companions and co-workers deal with the loss of two of their fellow employees.

The accused drunk driver who officials say caused the collision was uninjured and later arrested on second degree murder and other charges.

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City of Hemet Police and Fire personnel were dispatched to the intersection of Florida Avenue and Kirby Street around 4 a.m., Hemet Police Sgt. Dan Reinbolt later said of the collision and arrest.

When officials arrived they found a white BMW 535i sedan that had rear-ended a Honda Fit hatch-back within the eastbound lanes of Florida Avenue. The impact sent both vehicles careening across the intersection, and left the Honda straddling the center median while the BMW ended up on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Vehicle parts, a destroyed traffic sign and other debris were spread across the entire intersection and roadway.

Downy resident, Jesus Rios was driving east on Florida Avenue in a white BMW sedan when it plowed at full-speed into the back of a vehicle occupied by a trio of friends, all co-workers at Hemet Lowes. John Strangis RMG Media photo

The BMW had heavy front-end damage, while the Honda was left nearly unrecognizable. One witness later described the scene, saying, “It looked like the (Honda) was cut in half. It was smashed in completely from the rear-end.”

“Tragically, the driver and passenger of the Honda were killed, and another passenger of the Honda was seriously injured but is expected to survive,” said Reinbolt.

During their investigation, officers determined the driver of the BMW, 33-year-old, Jesus Ernesto Rios, of Downey, was driving eastbound on Florida Avenue, approaching Kirby Street at an undetermined speed.

“The driver of the Honda, a 21-year-old Hemet woman whose name is not being released pending notification of her family, was stopped on Florida Avenue facing east for a red traffic signal,” Reinbolt described. “Rios continued driving east without braking, and rear-ended the Honda.”

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After the fatal collision Rios allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot, but a witness prevented his escape and held him until officers arrived and detained him for further questioning.

Based on their investigation, officers determined Rios was intoxicated and arrested him. He was later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of two counts of second-degree murder, driving while intoxicated, DUI resulting in death and DUI causing great bodily injury.

Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center Dec. 16.

Three women, all employees at Hemet Lowes, were inside a Honda hatchback when an allegedly intoxicated driver smashed into the rear of their vehicle, killing two of the women and seriously injuring the other. John Stangis RMG News photo

During their investigation, officers closed Florida Avenue in both directions from Gilmore Street to Sanderson Avenue. The closure lasted several hours; however, the roadway has since reopened.

Anyone who witnessed this collision and has not yet provided a statement is encouraged to contact Hemet PD at (951) 765-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number 20-9281 and can remain anonymous.

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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.