Father killed, wife and young child critically injured, after off-road rollover crash in Riverside

August 8, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

RIVERSIDE, Calif., — An off-roading adventure turned deadly in Riverside after a Jeep overturned into a ravine along a steep ridgeline, killing its driver and critically injuring the vehicle’s two passengers Friday evening, Aug. 6. Although the deadly crash happened in a mountainous area near Cadbury Drive and Yearling Street, south of Crestlawn Memorial Park and Mortuary and east of the Norco Animal Control Shelter, officials have since said the deadly accident occurred in an area where off-roading is illegal.

Friday’s fatal accident followed just two days after another off-road vehicle related accident that critically injured a man in his 30s and his teenage nephew. The pair were illegally riding an ATV on city streets when they struck a passenger vehicle and were both ejected onto the roadway. The adult had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the collision and both victims remain hospitalized in critical condition.

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City of Riverside police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene around 8:30 p.m. after receiving the report of a solo-vehicle off-road vehicle accident, Riverside PD has since reported.

When officials arrived they found a 2006 Jeep Wrangler that had overturned into a steep and rocky ravine. Officials found three victims, all who were critically injured.

Although life-saving measures were attempted at the scene, the driver succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Ruben Armendarez, 52, of Corona, as the man killed in the crash. A coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 9:10 p.m.

SEE RELATED: Man & teen nephew critically injured after ATV crashes into vehicle in Riverside

“The two passengers were treated at the scene, but due to the terrain and nature of their injuries, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Rescue Helicopter assisted by air-lifting one of the passengers to a nearby hospital,” said officials.

“That passenger, a woman in her early 50’s, is currently in critical condition,” officials continued. “The other passenger, her 10-year-old son, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and is in critical but stable condition.”

Based on the circumstances, investigators from Riverside PD’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded and assumed the investigation.

“The preliminary investigation revealed (Armendarez) was driving a 2006 Jeep Wrangler on a steep ridge when the vehicle failed to negotiate the terrain and rolled into a ravine,” explained officials.

SEE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS INVOLVING ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE CRASHES ON RIVCO CITY STREETS:
Teen on ATV dies after running red light, hit by pickup
Fleeing minor crash, man fatally hits teen on quad, flees again
Teen ID’d after deadly off-road vehicle crash on Perris city streets
Rider of off-road quad killed in collision with car on Jurupa Valley city streets
Wildomar local man identified after fatal ATV accident in residential neighborhood

“This is yet another tragic reminder that off-roading of any kind is illegal in the city of Riverside, especially when operating at night and in unfamiliar terrain, officials have since said; adding, “This is the second fatality in 30 days while off-roading, and at least the 4th collision involving off-road vehicles that has resulted in significant injuries since last month whether occurring on dirt hills, the river bottom, or city streets.”

“All of these recent collisions were avoidable,” they continued.

Anyone with additional information regarding last night’s collision is urged to contact Riverside Police Traffic Detective Greg Matthews at (951) 826-8724 or [email protected]. Callers can refer to incident file number 21-0021588 and can remain anonymous.

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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.