Teen ID’d after deadly off road vehicle crash on Perris city streets

UPDATED: Sunday, May 30, 4:10 p.m.

See Original Stories below.

PERRIS, Calif. — Officials have identified a teen who passed away five days after being involved in a two-vehicle, major-injury crash in Perris on Saturday, May 23.

The teen was one of two youth who were critically injured after crashing into a passenger vehicle while unlawfully operating a side-by-side off road UTV at the intersection of Bradley Road and E. Rider Street.

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Officials have said that the deceased teen, who Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified as DurPree Battiest III, 16, of Perris, was with another teen while operating a Polaris RZR 1000 UTV when they were involved in a crash with another vehicle around 12:30 p.m. 

Although officials have not released any details as to how the fatal accident occurred, evidence at the scene indicated the teens were involved in a collision with a red Toyota within the intersection of Bradley Road and Rider Street.

The crash left the UTV heavily damaged, while the Honda sustained heavy front-end damage as well.

Battiest was rushed to Riverside University Health System’s trauma center in Moreno Valley, where he lingered in a coma over the next five days. Despite extensive life-saving efforts, Battiest passed away Friday morning. A coroner’s release indicted he was pronounced deceased at 8 a.m.

Officials have not said if Battiest was the driver or passenger in Saturday’s fatal collision.

Officials have not released the name of the other juvenile victim and although his condition was previously listed as critical, his current medical condition was not known.

“Today is a very hard day for a special family today,” Dawn and Derek Burton wrote in a social media post after learning of Durpree’s passing; adding, “Please do a special prayer for the Battiest and Day Family.”

“Syenthia Battiest lost her Grandson this morning,” the couple continued in their post. “Prayers for Dupree and Shanice for the lost of son Dupree Battiest III. Prayers for the family. Please let’s support them with what ever they need.”

The victim’s father, DurPree Battiest has since said his son suffered swelling in the brain and was left on life-support until his passing.

Explaining he was at his son’s side when he passed away, the grieving father said he was thankful that he had the opportunity to be with his son, who he described as “my buddy, my best friend, Man Man.”

“Man Man wasn’t able to pull through … this accident,” he explained; while calling his son “a young soldier” and “a great soul”.

A family representative this afternoon relayed to RCNS that DurPree’s family wanted to thank everyone for their continued love and support during what they said has been a very difficult and trying time.

“It has been difficult for everyone but we will heal,” the family said; adding, “Please keep our family in your prayers.”

A family-authorized and verified GoFundMe account has been created to help the victim’s family with funeral costs and other expenses. It had raised nearly $7,500 toward its $15,000 goal as of this update.

Original Story: Juveniles suffer major injuries after off road UTV crash in Perris

UPDATED: Sunday, May 23, 2:53 p.m., With additional details, photos, videos from the scene.

PERRIS, Calif. — Officials say two juveniles suffered major injuries when a side-by-side UTV they were operating was involved in a crash involving a passenger vehicle in Perris earlier this afternoon, Sunday, May 23. The accident happened while the off road side-by-side was being unlawfully driven on city streets at the intersection of Bradley Road and E. Rider Street.

The crash comes on the heels of recent Sheriff’s Department crackdowns on illegal off-highway vehicle riders throughout the Southwest Riverside County area.

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Deputies from the Perris Sheriff’s Station, Cal Fire-Riverside, and AMR medics were dispatched to the scene shortly after 12:30 p.m., Cal Fire and Sheriff’s officials since reported.

When officials arrived they found a heavily damaged, Polaris RZR 1000 UTV that was struck by a passenger vehicle within the intersection. A red Toyota with heavy front-end damage and its front, passenger side wheel sheered off was found partway down the block after the crash, which left vehicle parts and debris scattered throughout the intersection.

Officials are continuing to work at the scene of today’s crash involving a side-by-side UTV that was being illegally driven on city streets in Perris. SoCal LEAPS News photo

Officials found two seriously injured minors, who were rushed to an area hospital with injuries since described as major. Officials did not say if the juveniles were properly buckled into the UTV or if they were wearing helmets when the accident occurred.

It was also not immediately clear if the youth were operating the UTV, or if an adult or other driver was with the victims when the crash occurred.

At around 1 p.m., Sheriff’s officials provided a social media update saying, “We are currently investigating a major injury traffic collision involving an off-road vehicle at Bradley Road and Rider Street.”

“The entire intersection will be closed for several hours,” officials continued; while asking area residents to steer clear of the area.

Today’s accident happened just one day after Sheriff’s officials conducted a day-long off road vehicle enforcement operation in the nearby communities of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar. The enforcement sweep resulted in twelve vehicle operators being cited, one stolen vehicle being recovered, and two unregistered off road motorcycles being towed.

The Perris Sheriff’s Station also regularly conducts similar enforcement operations that target illegal off road vehicle use and officials at the station have made several recent social media posts about the dangers of driving off road vehicles on city streets; including several that resulted in side-by-side UTVs, similar to the one involved in today’s crash, being towed with their drivers cited.

“Off-Road saturation patrol will continue throughout the year to help combat the problem of off-road vehicles,” Sheriff’s officials said after yesterday’s enforcement operation.

SoCal LEAPS News photos above, videos below.

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.

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