Mecca man arrested for DUI/Murder after Moreno Valley crash that killed local woman, 52
UPDATED: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2022, 2:06 p.m., With updated details and arrest information.
Originally Published: Dec. 17, 2021, 4:42 p.m.
See Original Story below.
MORENO VALLEY, Calif., — Authorities have arrested a man who fatally struck a Moreno Valley woman who had just minutes earlier narrowly avoided an earlier collision involving a vehicle that struck and killed a burro in Moreno Valley last December.
After avoiding the earlier solo-vehicle collision that killed the burro, leaving the animal’s deceased body in the middle of the roadway, the victim reportedly positioned her Chevy across the lane of travel and was standing outside her car attempting to slow down traffic when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
The fatal, back-to-back accidents happened on Redlands Boulevard, north of Ironwood Avenue, according to officials.
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At the time of the deadly collision last December, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Grmusha said the victim, 52-year-old, Jacqueline Morgan, of Moreno Valley, was attempting to direct traffic around the earlier vehicle versus burro crash, when the second, three-vehicle accident occurred.
After lingering in intensive care for several days, Morgan succumbed to her injuries and passed away on the 19th.
As their investigation continued, Moreno Valley Station Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team members obtained evidence that showed the driver who fatally struck Morgan had been under the influence of alcohol when he hit and killed the victim.
Based on their investigation, on Jan. 5 deputies arrested 55-year-old, Martin Joel Ramirez-Hernandez, of Mecca.
He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree murder, felony driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, and an enhancement for great bodily injury resulting from the collision.
Online jail records indicate Ramirez-Hernandez remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Deputy Jonathan Glass of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6727 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 776-1099.
Original Story: Back-to-back Moreno Valley collisions leave local woman, 52, and burro dead
MORENO VALLEY, Calif., — Authorities say a woman was killed when she was struck by a vehicle just moments after she had narrowly avoided an earlier collision involving a vehicle that struck and killed a burro in Moreno Valley late Wednesday evening, Dec. 15.
After avoiding the earlier solo-vehicle collision that killed the burro, leaving the animal’s deceased body in the middle of the roadway, the victim reportedly positioned her Chevy across the lane of travel and was standing outside her car attempting to slow down traffic when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
The fatal, back-to-back accidents happened on Redlands Boulevard, north of Ironwood Avenue, according to officials.
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Deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 11:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a major-injury, three-vehicle traffic collision with rollover and entrapment, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Grmusha has since reported.
When officials arrived, they located three involved vehicles, described as a white, 2013 Toyota Corolla, silver, 2007 Chevy Trail Blazer, and silver, 2007 Nissan Altima that had overturned into a ditch.
The driver of the Chevy, since identified as 52-year-old, Jacqueline Morgan, of Moreno Valley, was found unresponsive in the roadway and was rushed to an area trauma center with major injuries. Despite extensive life-saving measures, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away several days later, on Dec. 19.
The driver of the Nissan was found trapped and injured inside his vehicle and firefighters performed a cut and rescue operation to free the seriously injured man. Once extricated from his vehicle, he was transported to an area hospital with major, but non-life-threatening injuries. He remains hospitalized, according to the Sergeant.
The driver of the Toyota, who had been sitting in his parked car along the side of the road after the first collision was uninjured. He remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators.
Members of the Moreno Valley Station’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation, which revealed that two separate traffic collisions had occurred.
Deputies determined the separate accidents began when the southbound Toyota driver struck and killed a burro that was crossing the roadway near the intersection Redlands Boulevard and Juniper Avenue.
After that collision, the Toyota driver pulled over to the side of the road and was in the process of calling for assistance when Morgan came upon the accident scene in her Chevy, according to Grmusha; who said she had angled her vehicle in front of the burro in an apparent attempt to prevent a secondary collision and had exited her vehicle and was standing near her driver’s side door when she was struck by the oncoming Nissan.
The collision’s impact caused the Chevy to be pushed into the parked Toyota and sent the Nissan careening across the roadway where it then overturned in a nearby drainage ditch, trapping its driver.
While officials worked at the scene they called for the temporary closure of Redlands Boulevard, between Locust Avenue and Ironwood Avenue, but the roadway has since been reopened.
Officials have not ruled out alcohol and/or drug intoxication and their investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call Deputy Jonathan Glass of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6727 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 776-1099. Callers can refer to incident file number MV213500006 and 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.