UPDATE: Motorcyclist, 29, ID’d after fiery Murrieta wreck
UPDATED: Saturday, March 13, 12:20 p.m., With coroner’s release of information and other details.
MURRIETA, Calif. — Authorities say a motorcyclist and father of four children was killed in a fiery, two-vehicle collision in Murrieta Sunday afternoon, March 7.
Witnesses who saw or heard the crash, which happened at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Alexandria Drive, later described hearing an explosion after the collision. Witnesses also described seeing good Samaritans running from every direction, with several using their own clothing to try to extinguish the flames from the burning motorcycle and the rider’s clothing, which had caught fire from the explosion.
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Murrieta Police, along with Fire and Rescue personnel, were dispatched to the scene at 12:48 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls from citizens reporting a traffic collision involving a vehicle and motorcycle, Murrieta Police Lieutenant James Gruwell later said of the fatal accident.
When officials arrived they found the unconscious rider down in the roadway and surrounded by citizens who were still trying to extinguish the motorcyclist’s burning clothes.
They also found the rider’s wrecked motorcycle near a blue SUV, with vehicle parts and debris spread across the roadway, according to Gruwell; who said both vehicles had “major fire and collision damage.”
Area residents and witnesses who saw the crash or heard the subsequent explosion ran to the aid of the mortally injured rider, with several reportedly using their own clothing to extinguish the motorcyclist’s burning clothes. Ariel Gonzalez photo
The rider was treated at the scene before being rushed to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar where, despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Brandon Colletti, 29, of Murrieta, as the victim killed in the collision. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 1:10 p.m.
Based on the circumstances, members of the Murrieta Police Department’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
Area resident Al Pancha, who lives near where the accident occurred, later said he was in his front yard when he heard the impact of the collision followed by a loud explosion.
“Once the black smoke was in the air and fire my neighbors and I ran over there,” Pancha described; adding, “I was one of the guys using his shirt to put the flames out on his leg.”
“I can’t stop thinking about him and what happened to him,” Pancha said. “It was an intense scene that is for sure.”
Another witness to the fatal collision, Monica Roney, later described how her husband was one of several other good Samaritans who used their own clothing to extinguish the rider’s burning clothing.
“He was wearing the orange shirt,” Roney said. “He took it off to help get the flames out.”
“It was absolutely the most emotional thing watching everyone run out without hesitation to save a life and how quickly everyone starting to handle traffic,” Roney described.
“It was just sad. I was and have been an absolute mess,” Roney continued while thanking everyone involved for their bravery.
Another witness, Nathan Racine, whose vehicle was struck by flying debris after the crash and explosion later described the accident as the “worst thing” he had ever witnessed.
“I can’t shake the image,” Racine described; adding, “Everyone controlled themselves amazingly.”
“I’m so sorry for his family and friends. Lord help him through this,” Racine continued.
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During their initial, on-scene investigation officers called for the temporary closure of Washington Avenue, between Nutmeg Street and Starbuck Circle. The roadway was reopened several hours later.
Officials have not yet determined if alcohol or drug intoxication or distracted driving on the part of the SUV driver who caused the collision were contributing factors in the collision and their investigation is ongoing.
Brandon Colletti – who was married and had four children, including 7 and 4-year-old girls and one-year-old twin boys – died from blunt force trauma after running into an SUV that witnesses have said pulled out directly in front of the oncoming motorcyclist. Colletti family photo/GoFundMe
Saying, “Some things in life will never make sense no matter how hard we try to process them,” friends and family members have created a GoFundMe account to raise funds for Colletti’s wife and children.
“Brandon was a father to 4 babies and had a wife he loved dearly,” Kendall Colletti explained in the fundraiser. “Brandon had his entire life ahead of him and had huge plans for their family.”
“His entire universe revolved around his children just 7, 4, and 1-year-old twins,” Kendall explained; adding, “His daughter’s 4th birthday was the day following his passing.”
“The funds raised here will be used to help this young mother and children throughout this grieving process as they all learn to do life without him,” said Kendall.
Anyone with information related to this traffic collision is requested to contact Murrieta Traffic Investigator Jared Matthews at (951) 461-6878. Callers can refer to incident file number MR21-1272 and can remain anonymous.
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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.
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