UPDATE: Speed suspected in fatal crash that killed Menifee man

UPDATED: May 30, 11:56 p.m., With Coroner’s release of information.
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 1, 12:20 p.m., With additional details from CHP.

Originally Published: Saturday, May 29, 11:15 a.m.

PERRIS, Calif. — Authorities today said that excessive speed was a contributing factor in a fatal, solo-vehicle crash and ejection that happened in Perris late Friday evening, May 28. The fatal crash happened on the southbound Interstate 215, south of D Street, according to California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire.

Although some initial reports indicated a second vehicle may have been involved and fled the scene after the deadly accident, CHP today reported that only one vehicle was involved in the fatal crash.

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CHP, Cal Fire-Riverside, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 11:10 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting of the crash, CHP reported today.

When officials arrived they found a Nissan that had overturned, ejecting its driver. The victim, who was found with blunt force trauma, was determined to have succumbed to his injuries and passed away prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Ajanni Cabrera, 20, of Menifee, as the victim who died in the crash. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 11:28 p.m.

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During their preliminary investigation, CHP Officer J. Navarro determined Cabrera was driving a Nissan “at a high rate of speed” just before the fatal accident.

“For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Nissan allowed his vehicle to veer across all lanes, causing the Nissan to leave the roadway and collide with the right shoulder sound wall,” Navarro explained.

After smashing into the sound wall, the Nissan careened back across all lanes of traffic before plowing into the left concrete center divider wall.

The Nissan then continued south before finally coming to rest in the number one and two lanes.

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“Due to the violent nature of the impacts, the driver of the Nissan was ejected and suffered blunt force trauma,” Navarro continued.

CHP’s investigation is continuing and officials have asked that any witnesses who may have seen the deadly crash is encouraged to call the California Highway Patrol at (951) 637-8000. Callers can refer to incident file number 1656 and can remain anonymous.



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.