Woman, 26, dead after slamming into Riverside pole
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Authorities say a woman who slammed into a pole was not likely wearing her seatbelt and made no attempt to turn, slow down or stop before plowing head-on into a pole Sunday morning, Feb. 28. The critically injured victim was left trapped inside the mangled wreckage of her car and despite life-saving efforts, she passed away at the scene.
The fatal accident happened on the southbound I-215 at the Van Buren Boulevard off-ramp, in an unincorporated area of Riverside adjacent the March Field Air Museum.
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CHP Riverside officers, along with Cal Fire-Riverside and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene around 7:27 a.m. after receiving reports of a solo vehicle traffic collision with the victim trapped inside her vehicle, CHP Officer Juan Quintero later said of the deadly crash.
When officials arrived, they found a heavily damaged grey 2004 Infinity Q35 with one unresponsive occupant, described only as a 26-year-old woman from Colton, inside the wrecked vehicle.
Officials say a woman who was apparently not wearing her seatbelt and made no attempt to turn, stop, or slow down, died after slamming head-on into a traffic pole early Sunday morning. Caltrans Traffic Camera/Riversaid photo
“The vehicle … sustained extensive damage and access to the driver could not be obtained,” Quintero described. “Shortly after, Cal-Fire personnel arrived on scene and pronounced the driver deceased at the scene.”
The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of her family.
During their subsequent investigation, officers determined the woman was traveling southbound on the I-215 in the Infinity when she approached the Van Buren off-ramp at an undetermined speed.
“As the Infinity approached the top of the off-ramp, it appeared the Infinity made no attempt
to negotiate the right-hand turn and made no attempts to slow down, (leaving) no skid marks,” Quintero described. “Subsequently, the Infinity struck a traffic signal pole, which resulted in fatal injuries to the driver and major damage to the Infinity.”
“It is suspected that driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision,” Quintero said; adding that alcohol and/or drug intoxication have not been ruled out as possible contributing factors.
CHP’s investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation or who witnessed the crash and has not yet provided a statement is encouraged to contact Officer A. Camilo, of the California Highway Patrol’s Accident Investigation Unit at (951) 637-8000.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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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 (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.