Fiery Hwy 371 crash kills one, ignites one-acre brush fire

ANZA, Calif. — Authorities say a man was killed in a fiery, solo-vehicle, rollover accident in Anza yesterday afternoon, Monday, May 31. The crash, which sparked a one-acre vegetation fire, happened along SR-371 just east of Cahuilla Road, according to California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire.

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CHP, Cal Fire-Riverside, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 2 p.m. after receiving reports of a rollover traffic accident involving a passenger vehicle, according to officials.

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene they found a 2005 Kia Sorento that had overturned onto its roof and burst into flames. Due to the intensity of the fire no rescue attempt of the driver and sole-occupant could be attempted.

While officers directed traffic past and away from the accident scene and vegetation fire, Cal Fire requested additional resources to the scene and began work to extinguish the blaze. 

Six engine companies, along with two hand crews, three water tenders, two dozers, and at least one firefighting aircraft responded to assist battle the vegetation fire; with Cal Fire reporting knock down around 3 p.m.

Once the fire was extinguished, officials confirmed one person had perished in the crash and fire. The victim’s name was not released; pending further investigation, positive identification, and notification of the person’s family.

 During their subsequent collision investigation, CHP determined the as-yet unidentified driver was traveling eastbound on Hwy. 371 at an unknown speed, approaching a left-curve in the roadway.

As the victim began to traverse the curve in the roadway he made an unsafe turning movement, causing his Kia to careen off the highway, where it then tore through a fence before smashing into a large boulder, according to CHP. The collision with the boulder launched the Kia into the air causing it to land on its roof in a ravine and burst into flames.

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Highway 371 was closed for approximately 30 minutes while Cal Fire extinguished the brush fire, according to Cal Fire.

CHP – Temecula Area is conducting this traffic collision investigation and their investigation is continuing.

Officers later used the opportunity to remind area motorists to always refrain from driving distracted.

“Stay focused on the road and travel at a safe speed to maintain control of your vehicle,” said CHP.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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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