Beaumont man who jumped in front of big rig killed, suicide suspected

May 12, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

BEAUMONT, Calif. — Authorities say that evidence and witness statements at the scene of a deadly accident involving a tractor trailer that ran over a Beaumont man suggested that the man may have purposely thrown himself in front of the oncoming big rig Tuesday afternoon, May 11.

The deadly incident happened along Highland Springs Avenue between 6th Street and the I10 Freeway, according to officials.

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Beaumont Police Department began receiving 911 calls reporting a pedestrian in the road who had been struck by a tractor trailer combo around 3 p.m.

Officers arrived on scene within minutes and quickly located a man down in the southbound lanes of traffic on Highland Springs Avenue. Officers attempted CPR, but the victim succumbed to injuries and passed away at the scene.

Based on witness statements and evidence at the scene, officials believe 60-year-old Beaumont resident, Eric Olson, intended to be struck by an oncoming big rig. He died at the scene after “throwing himself” in front of the tractor-trailer combo, according to officials who investigated the deadly incident. Beaumont Police Department photo

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the victim as Eric Olson, 60, of Beaumont. A coroner’s release indicated Olson was pronounced deceased at 3:12 p.m.

“Initial witness statements and other evidence gathered by officers indicate the subject may have intentionally thrown himself in front of the passing truck,” Beaumont Police Department has since said of the fatal incident; adding there were no other reported injuries.

The case remains under investigation by Beaumont Police Department.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the on-duty Beaumont PD Watch Commander at (951) 769-8500. Callers can refer to incident file number 2105B1416 and can remain anonymous.

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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.