UPDATE: Teen girls ID’d after deadly Indio area wreck that left another in critical condition

June 20, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Monday, June 21, 9:30 a.m.

See Original Story below.

INDIO, Calif. — Authorities have identified two teens who were killed in a solo-vehicle traffic accident in the unincorporated Sky Valley area of Riverside County, north of Indio, early Sunday morning, June 20. A third victim was critically injured in the fatal collision, according to California Highway Patrol and CAL FIRE officials.

There were no witnesses to the deadly crash, which occurred at Dillon and Berdoo Canyon roads, a remote, desert area east of the Coachella Valley Preserve and north of the Golf Club at Terra Lago.

Two teenage girls were declared deceased at the scene while the third victim, who was found trapped inside the wrecked vehicle and had to be extricated during a cut and rescue operation, was eventually airlifted by Mercy Air Ambulance to an area trauma center. That victim’s current condition has not been updated.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials today identified Jade Torres, and Valerie Castellanos, both 17 and both from Indio, as the victims killed in the crash. A coroner’s release indicated the girls were pronounced deceased immediately when officials arrived at the scene, at 5:25 a.m.

Both girls families have been notified and CHP’s investigation is ongoing.

Original Story: Two dead, one critical, after solo-vehicle Indio area wreck

INDIO, Calif. — Authorities say two people were killed and a third person was critically injured after a solo-vehicle crash in the unincorporated Riverside County Sky Valley area, north of Indio, early Sunday morning, June 20.

The fatal collision occurred at Dillon and Berdoo Canyon roads, in a remote, desert area east of the Coachella Valley Preserve and north of the Golf Club at Terra Lago, according to California Highway Patrol and CAL FIRE officials.

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CHP, CAL FIRE-Riverside and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 5:17 a.m., officials have since reported.

Nearly an hour later, CAL FIRE updated that two victims had already succumbed to their injuries and passed away at the scene. They also advised that a third victim was found trapped inside the wrecked vehicle and that firefighters were still working to free the person from the mangled vehicle.

Based on the severity of the surviving victim’s injuries, officials requested an air ambulance to the location and Mercy Air Ambulance 18 was soon launched to the area.

Firefighters managed to free the victim from the vehicle at about the same time Mercy 18 was landing and at around 6:45 a.m., after stabilizing the victim, the air ambulance lifted off.

The victim’s injuries were described as major and their current condition has not been updated.

The names of the victims killed in the crash have not been released, pending notification of their families.

CHP’s investigation is continuing and officers have not yet stated if alcohol and/or drug intoxication were contributing factors in the fatal accident.

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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.