Teen remains critical, unresponsive, after Christmas day hit and run
UPDATED: Monday, Dec. 28, 11:30 a.m., With additional details.
HEMET, Calif. — A 16-year-old girl who was left for dead on the side of the road by a driver who fled the scene after running her and her boyfriend down on Christmas remains hospitalized and in critical condition today. Authorities are continuing to search for the person responsible for the hit and run collision, but no arrests have been made.
The victim, identified by family members as Jaylene Aguirre, of San Jacinto, remains sedated and unconscious after suffering a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones from her hips down, and lacerations and bruises all over her body. She has already undergone several life-saving surgeries, with her last surgery yesterday being to put a metal rod in her femur and pins in her ankle, according to concerned family members.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Second car-to-car shooting in San Jacinto valley in 7 days leads to crash, one injured
Attorneys dispute facts after new details, videos released following Riverside County in-custody death
Investigation continuing after man dies at Riverside County jail
No injuries reported after Depot Deli shooting in Hemet
City of Hemet Police and Fire personnel, along with AMR, were dispatched to the intersection of W. Menlo and N. Sanderson avenues around 9:15 p.m., Dec. 25, after receiving reports of two teens who were struck by a pickup truck that never stopped or slowed down and fled the area.
When officials arrived they found 16-year-old Jaylene just off the roadway with critical, life-threatening injuries.
16-year-old, Jaylene Aguirre, of San Jacinto, remains unresponsive and in critical condition after an unknown driver struck her and her boyfriend as they walked near the intersection of W. Menlo and N. Sanderson avenues in Hemet the the early evening hours of Christmas day. Aguirre family photos
Due to the extent of her traumatic injuries a Mercy Air ambulance was launched to the Hemet-Ryan airport, where an AMR ambulance crew helped transfer her into the airship to be life-flighted to a trauma center at Loma Linda Hospital in San Bernardino.
Her boyfriend, whose name has not been released, was also injured in the hit and run and was treated at the scene for his injuries.
During their investigation, officers interviewed witnesses who described the hit and run vehicle as a 2015 to 2018 grey Toyota Tundra with possible front-end damage.
As the investigation is continuing family members are left wondering why someone would flee the scene after hitting two teenagers, while worrying if Jaylene will fully recover from her life-threatening injuries.
“She’s still in critical condition but stable,” the victim’s aunt, Marlene Aguirre Mason, of San Jacinto, told RCNS this afternoon. “She’s intubated and not responding to them trying to wake her up from sedation and her brain bleed is getting worse.”
“She’s responding to pain stimulus but nothing else,” Aguirre Mason continued.
“Jaylene has the biggest heart and is such a positive person to be with,” Aguirre Mason described of her young niece. “She’s always helping out with the family.”
“This happened so fast and it all feels like a bad nightmare,” Jaylene’s aunt continued.
Jaylene’s family has been left with many questions but few answers, as they hope for a full recovery of their young loved one. Aguirre family photo
“I cant even fathom how a human could be so heartless and selfish to leave two young kids, who are good kids, on the side of the road for dead like animals!!!!” Aguirre Mason angrily told RCNS. “They have their whole lives ahead of them!”
“Our family is beyond devastated,” Aguirre Mason continued. “These kids did not deserve this!”
LEADING THE SCNS NORTH STATE HEADLINES:
UPDATE: Suspect dead, Walmart reopened, video emerges, after “wild” Redding crime spree
Wanted felon who had threatened family shot outside victim’s apartment
“Please come home or contact us,” family pleads of missing Burney teen
Crash injures Redding officer after other motorist runs red light
As Jaylene continues her long road to recovery, her family has created a GoFundMe account seeking financial assistance to help cover Jaylene’s extensive medical costs. As of this update the family had raised more than $6,000 toward their $10,000 goal.
Hemet PD is asking that anyone who may have witnessed this collision or who has information regarding the driver who fled the scene to contact the Hemet Police Department at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Timothy Franzese/Public Safety Incidents photos above, video below.
This article sponsored by:
For more information, contact Bill Tyler at Century 21 Full Realty Service.
With breaking news articles, videos, podcasts, opinion pieces and more, Law Enforcement News Network has all the latest news and information related to law enforcement issues across the nation.
Voted Best Independent Sandwich Shop in the Inland Empire by The Press-Enterprise readers choice. Centrally located on N Harvard St in the heart of Downtown Hemet, enjoy over 30 different sandwiches and premium salads. Our coffee is made from locally roasted, Organic Coffee Beans from Idyllwild Coffee Roasters. Come taste the difference that is Downtown Deli & Coffee Company. For more information, visit Downtown Deli & Coffee Co. on Facebook.
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.
Pingback: Victim ID’d after car ripped in half on SR-60 Christmas morning – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: RivCO hopes “Security Camera Registration” program will help both deter & solve crimes – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Four shot, two dead in La Cresta after “botched” home invasion robbery – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Officials seek witnesses, videos after Hemet murder – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: SoCalGas’ CLEO Program helping families save on energy costs – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Jack-knifed big-rig on SR-89 near Burney leads to overnight confusion, traffic delays – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Struck and left for dead on Christmas day, teen’s recovery continuing – Riverside County News Source