UPDATE: Family had pulled over for flat when struck from behind by drunk driver – 2 dead, 1 critical

UPDATED: Tuesday, June 22, 11:30 a.m.

See Original Story below.

PERRIS, Calif. — Authorities have released additional details regarding a deadly Perris collision that killed two family members and left a third clinging to life and in critical condition Friday evening, June 18. CHP yesterday said the family in the vehicle that was struck had pulled over on the northbound I-215, south of Nuevo Road, to fix a flat tire when they were hit from behind by an allegedly drunk driver.

The driver of the vehicle who caused the deadly crash, Jesus Monge Gutierrez, 42, of Quail Valley, was arrested at the scene of the accident. He has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI resulting in great bodily injury, but was released within hours of his arrest after posting $75,000 bail.

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When officials arrived they found a black, 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer on the right shoulder. The entire back of the car was crushed, with major roof encroachment into the rear passenger area of the vehicle.

A Dodge Ram 3500 pulling an empty horse trailer with major front-end damage was found north of the Mitsubishi with a solo, Hispanic male occupant, CHP Officer Juan Quintero has since reported.

Two victims, an adult male and a female of unknown age, were found to have suffered critical injuries and despite life-saving efforts, both succumbed to their injuries and passed away at the scene.

“The force of the collision caused fatal injuries to the driver and right rear passenger of the Mitsubishi,” Quintero later explained. “They were pronounced deceased at the scene by responding Fire Department personnel.”

A third victim was critically injured and was rushed to an area trauma center, where she remains in critical condition, according to grieving family members.

Although officials have not yet released the victim’s names, family members of the deceased have identified the victims as 62-year-old, Mario Vasquez, and 21-year-old, Katie Vasquez.

After learning that members of her family were involved in the deadly accident, Marisol Benavides wrote online, “Please pray for my family. We’re devastated”

“We just lost my uncle and my niece in that accident,” she continued; adding, “My uncle’s wife is in critical condition.”

in the mean time, Monge remains out of custody on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Oct. 22.

CHP’s investigation is continuing.

Original Story: Two dead, one critical after DUI crash on I-215 in Perris – Man arrested

PERRIS, Calif. — Authorities say two people were killed and a third victim, all from one car, were critically injured in a two-vehicle, DUI crash in Perris Friday evening, June 18.

A man, the driver of a second vehicle, was arrested at the scene of the deadly crash, which happened on the northbound I-215, south of Nuevo Road. He has been charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI resulting in great bodily injury, but was released within hours of his arrest after posting $75,000 bail.

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CHP, CAL FIRE-Riverside, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 9:30 p.m. after receiving report of a collision with major damage, according to a CAL FIRE social media release.

When officials arrived they found a black, 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer on the right shoulder. The entire back of the car was crushed, with major roof encroachment into the rear passenger area of the vehicle.

A Dodge Ram 3500 pulling an empty horse trailer with major front-end damage was found north of the Mitsubishi with a solo, Hispanic male occupant, CHP Officer Juan Quintero later reported.

Two people were killed and another was critically injured after a two-vehicle, DUI-related crash in Perris Friday night. Bobby Burke/OC Hawk News photo

Two victims, an adult male and a female of unknown age, were found to have suffered critical injuries and despite life-saving efforts, both succumbed to their injuries and passed away at the scene.

“The force of the collision caused fatal injuries to the driver and right rear passenger of the Mitsubishi,” Quintero later explained. “They were pronounced deceased at the scene by responding Fire Department personnel.”

A third victim was critically injured and was rushed to an area trauma center, where she remains in critical condition, according to grieving family members.

The names of the victims killed in the crash have not yet been publicly identified.

The driver of the pickup truck, since identified as Jesus Monge Gutierrez, 42, was taken into custody for DUI and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI resulting in great bodily injury.

After learning that members of her family were involved in the deadly accident, Marisol Benavides wrote online, “Please pray for my family. We’re devastated”

“We just lost my uncle and my niece in that accident,” she continued; adding, “My uncle’s wife is in critical condition.”

in the mean time, Monge remains out of custody on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Oct. 22.

CHP is overseeing this investigation and officials have not yet released any details regarding their ongoing investigation.

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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