Illegal passing ruled out after Gilman Springs crash that killed mother, injured children
UPDATED: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1049 p.m.
See Original Story below.
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — Officials have identified a woman who was killed in a three-vehicle, head-on crash in an unincorporated area between Moreno Valley and San Jacinto yesterday morning, Tuesday, Jan. 19.
According to CHP, the deadly accident happened on Gilman Springs Road, east of Alessandro Boulevard, when another driver clipped a box truck and careened head-on into another vehicle occupied by a mother and three children.
All five occupants injured in the collision, including the victim’s three children, were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to major.
The critically injured mother was rushed to a trauma center at Riverside University Health System-Medical Center in Moreno Valley where, despite life-saving efforts, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials today identified her as Lucretia Garland, 31, of San Jacinto. A coroner’s release indicated she was pronounced deceased by hospital staff at 8:50 a.m.
The driver who caused the collision sustained major injuries and was still undergoing surgery as of last night. His condition has not been updated, but CHP said this morning that he remains hospitalized.
Although the fatal crash happened in a no-passing zone, during their subsequent investigation CHP ruled out illegal passing as well as alcohol intoxication as possible contributing factors in the deadly collision. However, they have said, “The main cause is still under investigation.”
CHP later reported the victim’s three children escaped serious injury because they had been properly buckled into their car seats when the accident happened, saying, “These three children are alive today because they were all in the proper seats for their ages, and each seat was installed correctly.”
CHP also used the opportunity to remind motorists “to always stay focused on the task of driving as the situation ahead of you can change in the blink of an eye.”
California Highway Patrol – San Gorgonio is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash and have asked that anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet provided a statement to authorities to contact CHP at (951) 769-2000. Callers can refer to incident file number 210119IC00083 and can remain anonymous.
Original Story: Mother killed, 3 children and other driver injured, after Gilman Springs head-on crash
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — Authorities say a mother was killed and three of her children were all hospitalized after a head-on collision in an unincorporated area between Moreno Valley and San Jacinto early this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 19. The driver who reportedly caused the deadly collision suffered major injuries and was undergoing surgery as of this report, according to California Highway Patrol.
The fatal accident, which happened on Gilman Springs Road, east of Alessandro Boulevard, forced the temporary closure of the roadway, causing significant delays for early morning commuters and other motorists.
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CHP, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cal Fire-Riverside, and AMR were all dispatched to the scene around 7 a.m., after receiving reports of a multi-vehicle crash with victims trapped inside two of the vehicles, CHP Officer Matt Napier has since reported.
When officials arrived they found three involved vehicles, described as a silver sedan, dark-colored sedan, and a box truck. Both sedans had major front-end damage, while the box truck sustained minor damage.
Officials say the driver of a silver sedan crossed the double yellow lines in a no-passing zone, clipped a box truck, and then careened head-on into a car occupied by a woman and her three children. The mother later died from her injuries. CHP photos
Firefighters found a critically injured woman and three children trapped inside the dark-colored sedan and began a cut and rescue operation to free the four victims from the vehicle.
The seriously injured driver of the other sedan was also trapped and required extrication, while the driver of the box truck was uninjured in the fatal collision, according to Napier.
All five victims were eventually transported to area hospitals, where the mother later succumbed to her injuries and passed away. Her three children, who had all been properly buckled into their car seats, suffered only minor injuries.
The deceased woman’s name has not been released, pending notification of her family.
The other driver’s injuries were later described as major and he was still undergoing surgery as of this report, according to Napier.
During their subsequent investigation, CHP determined that for reasons not yet known, the driver of the silver sedan had crossed over the double yellow lines in a no-passing zone, where he clipped a box truck.
The impact sent his car careening head-on into the other sedan, which had been carrying the deceased victim and her children, according to Napier.
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CHP is still working to determine the full facts of what led to the deadly collision and has not yet ruled out alcohol and/or drug intoxication, distracted driving, or a medical crisis as possible contributing factors in the crash.
While officials worked at the scene, officers called for the temporary closure of Gilman Springs Road, which had been reopened as of 8:45 a.m.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
CHP photos
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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 KRCR News Channel 7 and Mountain Echo in Shasta County, Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego 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.
Does anyone know who the mom and children were
Hi Cynthia,
The victim has been identified as Lucretia Garland, 31, of San Jacinto.
-TM
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