Two children, two adults, ages 11, 16, 31, 37, ID’d after deadly Ramona Expressway wreck
UPDATED: Saturday, Feb. 13, 12:30 p.m.,
See Original Story, Photos, Videos below
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — As the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the cause of a multi-vehicle, head-on fatal wreck that happened in San Jacinto Thursday evening, Feb. 11, coroner officials have released the names of the four people who were killed in the collision.
The deadly accident, which witness statements along with early and unconfirmed reports indicate was possibly caused by a wrong-way driver, happened in the area of Ramona Expressway and 7th St.
Officials had earlier reported that three of the Hemet victims died at the scene, while the fourth victim, an 11-year-old Eastvale girl, succumbed to her injuries after being taken to an area trauma center.
LEADING THE RCNS/SCNS STATE HEADLINES:
Armed with “large butcher knife”, parolee arrested after trying to stab family members
Kidnapped from Hemet and dumped in Lake Elsinore, woman safe, man arrested
UPDATE: Woman killed after pulling “replica handgun” on Redding officers ID’d
Three 150 mph San Jacinto valley pursuits in one night lead to man’s arrest
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials today released the names of the victims, including Aileen Sotelo, 16, of Hemet; Elizabeth Muniz, 37, of Hemet; and Michal Tostado, listed as a 31-year-old woman from Hemet; all of whom passed away at the scene and were pronounced deceased within minutes of each other.
Coroner officials also released the name of Aolani Ramirez-Muniz, 11, of Eastvale, who died after being rushed to Riverside University Health Care System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. She was pronounced deceased at 10:56 p.m., just a few hours after the deadly collision.
The San Jacinto Sheriff’s Traffic Reconstruction Team is continuing to investigate the cause of Thursday’s deadly crash and their investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision and has not been interviewed is encouraged to call Deputy Munoz at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I210420115 and can remain anonymous.
Original Story: Two adults, two juveniles dead after San Jacinto wreck
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — Authorities say four people, including two juveniles, were killed after a five-vehicle crash in San Jacinto last night, Thursday, Feb. 11.
The deadly collision, which witnesses from the scene along with early and unconfirmed reports indicate was possibly caused by a wrong-way driver, happened in the area of Ramona Expressway and 7th St.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Kidnapped from Hemet and dumped in Lake Elsinore, woman safe, man arrested
CHP motor officer seriously injured after sideswiped on I-10 in Whitewater
Hemet men arrested after caught burglarizing Murrieta vehicles
Driver was DUI in Moreno Valley crash that killed 6-year-old girl
Deputies from the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire-Riverside, City of Hemet and Soboba Fire Departments, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 8:15 p.m., after receiving reports of a major injury traffic collision with victims trapped, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Dawn Blair has since said of the fatal collision.
“Deputies arrived at the scene within minutes and located a collision involving five vehicles,” Blair explained.
Three people, including a juvenile, from a white Kia were killed, while the driver of a Black Nissan SUV also died after a multi-vehicle head-on collision involving as many as five vehicles in San Jacinto last night. John Strangis/EN Media Productions photo
Although a Mercy Air Ambulance was requested and launched to the area, the helicopter was later canceled once officials determined the most critically injured victims had already succumbed to their injuries and passed away at the scene.
“Three people had passed away in those vehicles,” Cal Fire Public Information Officer Richard Cordova explained from the scene.
Blair later confirmed the on-scene deaths, adding, “One occupant in a black Nissan Armada and two occupants in a white Kia Optima were pronounced deceased at the scene.”
“A third occupant in the Kia Optima was transported to Riverside University Health System (RUHS) in critical condition and later succumbed to her injuries,” Blair added. Unconfirmed reports indicate the third person who died from the Kia was a young girl.
None of the victims killed in last night’s crash have been identified, pending further investigation and notification of their families.
LEADING THE SCNS NORTH STATE HEADLINES:
UPDATE: Woman killed after pulling “replica handgun” on Redding officers ID’d
Wanted for repeatedly burglarizing elderly victim’s home, Anderson man arrested
Mountain Gate woman shot during property dispute between roommates
Redding felon arrested after boarding RABA bus with stolen rifle
Argument between boys, 15, ends in fatal Shasta Lake shooting
The San Jacinto Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene of the collision and assumed the investigation, which is active and ongoing.
“It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision,” said Blair.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision and has not been interviewed is encouraged to call Deputy Munoz at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station, (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I210420115 and can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
John Strangis/EN Media Productions photos above, video below
Nathan Wilking/RVC News photos above
Eddie George/Hemet News video above
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 (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
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: Three 150 mph SJ valley pursuits in one night lead to man’s arrest – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: One injured after fiery rollover wreck in Montgomery Creek – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Riverside man arrested after “savage” killing of chihuahua puppy – Riverside County News Source
Was this story ever updated with the investigation results? Specifically, was DUI a factor?