DUI suspected, weapons discovered, after major-injury crash near Fall River Mills
FALL RIVER MILLS, Calif., — Authorities say three people were hospitalized after a solo-vehicle, DUI and speed-related crash in the Fall River Mills area yesterday evening, Friday, July 30. The accident happened on Cassel Fall Fall River Road just before Nez Perce and Chaffey courts, south of Fall River Mills.
Although the man operating the vehicle at the time of the accident, who is on felony probation and was driving on a suspended license due to a prior DUI conviction, has since been arrested, according to officials he remains hospitalized in intensive care and will not be booked into jail at this time due to his ongoing medical treatment.
Last night’s crash happened just an hour after Intermountain area law enforcement officers were involved in the unrelated high-speed pursuit of a stolen pickup truck. Although that suspect managed to elude capture after abandoning the vehicle and fleeing into the woods about ten miles from where the later crash occurred, the victim of the theft has since said deputies recovered various personal items and receipts with names on them and she was hopeful the recovered evidence would lead to the man’s arrest.
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California Highway Patrol and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 7:30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting the major-injury crash, CHP Officer Chris Ogden told SCNS by phone this afternoon.
The caller reported three victims were seriously injured and trapped inside the wrecked vehicle, a grey Nissan Sentra.
CHP has reported that three people were hospitalized, including two who suffered major injuries ranging from a brain bleed, possible broken back with two compressed vertebrae, lacerated liver and other internal and major traumatic injuries, after a DUI-related, solo-vehicle crash south of Fall River Mills last night. SCNS photos
When officials arrived they confirmed finding a wrecked car that had smashed nearly head-on into a large oak tree, according to Ogden; who added that the same tree was the site of a 2017 fatal crash that killed a man and that last night’s wreck destroyed a memorial to that victim.
All three seriously injured victims were trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the Nissan and firefighters used the Jaws of Life to perform a cut and rescue operation to extricate the trio from the vehicle.
The three victims, all since identified as Fall River Mills residents, were then transported to Mercy in Redding where they continue to receive treatment for their moderate to serious injuries, Ogden explained.
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During their subsequent investigation, officials found two handguns inside the wrecked Nissan, including one that had it’s serial numbers “filed off”, which is a felony in California, according to Ogden; who said that none of the three occupants from the vehicle have claimed ownership of the weapons.
“Our investigation revealed that Montoya was driving northbound on Fall River Cassel Road approaching Nez Perce Court at a high rate of speed just before the crash,” Ogden told SCNS this afternoon; adding that exactly what caused the accident remains unclear and is part of CHP’s ongoing investigation.
Last night’s crash destroyed a memorial for Ron Brazier, who was killed after colliding with the same oak tree in 2017. SCNS photos
Oscar Montoya, 23, who was found trapped and buckled into the driver’s seat of the car, sustained major injuries; including a brain bleed, two compressed vertebrae and other major injuries in the collision. He was later determined to be under the influence of alcohol according to Ogden; who said the man was arrested for felony DUI resulting in great bodily injuries, driving on a suspended license, and other charges.
He was not booked into jail due to his medical condition and ongoing treatment, said Ogden.
The right front passenger in the vehicle, Thomas Hamilton Flores, 21, was the most seriously injured of the three according to Ogden; who said the man suffered a lacerated liver, internal bleeding and other major traumatic injuries in the crash.
The third occupant who had been in the back seat of the Nissan at the time of the crash, Dylon Buompensiero, was the least seriously injured and sustained a serious chest contusion and had complaints of back pain.
It was not immediately known if either of the passengers were wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred.
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CHP’s investigation into the cause of the crash and the origin of the discovered weapons is continuing and have asked that anyone with information about this investigation or the recovered weapons is encouraged to contact CHP Officer Ogden at (530) 225-0500. Callers can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, 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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