Boy, 7, fatally run over in sledding accident near Idyllwild
PINE COVE, Calif. — Authorities say a Beaumont family visiting friends in Pine Cove led to a fatal sledding accident that ended in the tragic death of a 7-year-old boy Sunday afternoon, March 14. The victim was critically injured when his sled rocketed from a snow and ice-slicked driveway into the street, where he was run over by a passing transit van, according to officials.
The deadly accident happened within the Pine Cove community of Idyllwild, according to CHP Public Information Officer Matt Nappier; who described the accident as “an absolute tragedy and one that could have been prevented.”
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Investigation underway after body pulled from Canyon Lake
DUI suspected in fatal Good Hope head-on crash
Woman, 22, killed in two-vehicle San Jacinto crash
CHP was alerted to the accident around 2:53 p.m. when the critically injured child was rushed into the Cal Fire Keenwild Station in Idyllwild by distraught family members and the driver who fatally struck the boy.
Paramedics immediately began treating the victim and started life-saving efforts, while requesting an air ambulance to the location to airlift the boy to a nearby trauma center.
Unfortunately, before the child could be air evacuated, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the victim as Michael Rigg, 7, of Beaumont. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 3:45 p.m.
During their subsequent investigation, CHP learned the child had been with his family visiting friends on Sylvan Way, west of Hwy 243, when the accident occurred.
According to Napier, the victim had been sledding on the home’s driveway when his sled traveled from the driveway and into the roadway. He then slid under a passing 2020 Ford Transit 350 and was run over, sustaining major injuries.
Per multiple witness accounts the driver of the van, a 35-year-old man from Desert Hot Springs, was traveling eastbound on Sylvan Way at a low rate of speed when the accident occurred, Napier explained.
The driver immediately stopped and assisted in transporting the critically injured child to the nearby fire station where he later passed away.
SEE OTHER RECENT RCNS HEADLINE NEWS:
Trial starts for man who propped dead wife on sofa with sunglasses while kids opened Christmas presents nearby
Victim of second fatal fentanyl overdose in days ID’d – Dealer remains in custody on murder charges
Second man arrested after French Valley girl dies from fentanyl overdose
More details released after fatal Riverside officer-involved shooting
Alcohol and drug intoxication have been ruled out as contributing factors, according to Napier.
“Although this collision is still under investigation, the California Highway Patrol recognizes that this is an absolute tragedy and one that could have been prevented,” Napier said of the fatal incident.
“We would like to remind anyone visiting our mountain communities to never sled on active roadways and to always be aware of your surroundings,” Napier continued; adding, “Always keep a keen eye on your children and never get complacent when it comes to traffic safety.”
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.