Robbed of skateboard and pushed into oncoming traffic, Hemet teen critically injured – Suspects and witnesses sought
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 2, 12:05 p.m., With GoFundMe link.
Originally Published: Tuesday, March 1, 10:31 a.m.
HEMET, Calif., — Authorities today are continuing to investigate the robbery and attack of a 15-year-old boy who was confronted by a group of juveniles who stole his skateboard before pushing him into oncoming traffic Monday afternoon, Feb. 28. Officials say the teen was critically injured in the collision, which happened at the intersection of Stetson Avenue and Seven Hills Drive, and remains hospitalized.
To aid in their ongoing investigation and to help identify those involved in the “senseless and heinous attack”, officials have asked for area residents, motorists, and businesses to check their dashcams and surveillance videos for yesterday, between 4:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and to notify them of anything that may help shed light on the circumstances that led to the victim’s critical injuries.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
DUI alleged after Moreno Valley collision that left one dead, another behind bars
Solo-vehicle crash into parked construction vehicle in Riverside leaves local man, 28, dead
Pilot uninjured after plane crashes into parked car, aircraft hangar in Banning
Skateboard-riding Perris teen ID’d after fatally struck in Riverside
Local woman, 33, ID’d after fatal San Jacinto head-on collision
City of Hemet police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene shortly before 4:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a major injury traffic collision involving a pedestrian and passenger vehicle, Hemet Police Lieutenant Nate Miller has since said of the attack and ongoing search for those responsible.
When officials arrived, they found a teen who had sustained major traumatic injuries after being struck by a white Tesla. The young victim was rushed to an area hospital according to Miller, who said, “He is in critical condition, but thankfully expected to survive.”
Officials work at the scene of yesterday’s robbery and attack that left a 15-year-old critically injured when he was robbed of his skateboard and shoved into oncoming traffic. Eddie George/Laurie Cain – Hemet News photo
Based on the circumstances surrounding the incident, detectives were summoned to the scene and immediately assumed the investigation.
Detectives soon learned that the victim had been riding his skateboard eastbound on Stetson Avenue near Seven Hills Drive when he was confronted by “a group of young people” who instigated a brief altercation.
During the subsequent unprovoked confrontation, the victim was shoved into the lanes of traffic.
Unable to stop in time or avoid a collision an oncoming Tesla struck the victim, who was thrown onto the sedan’s hood and windshield before he was launched into the air, coming down in a crumpled heap within the intersection.
The victim’s attackers immediately fled the scene, taking the teen’s skateboard with them as they fled the area.
SEE ALSO: Memorial event celebrates life and legacy of Richard De La Cruz Sr., co-founder of Menifee nonprofit Operation Silver Star
The driver of the Tesla, a 52-year-old male, immediately stopped at the scene and is continuing to cooperate with investigators, according to Miller, who made a point of saying that intoxication and/or speeding on his part have been ruled out as possible contributing factors in the collision.
Because of the victim’s age and the fact that he was on his way home after school when the robbery and attack occurred, administrators at his school were notified and they helped contact the boy’s parents, who rushed to the hospital to be by his side.
The driver who was unable to stop in time to avoid striking the juvenile victim has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the collision that left a boy with critical injuries. Eddie George/Laurie Cain – Hemet News photo
Detectives have already interviewed numerous witnesses to the attack, but they are asking for other potential witnesses to step forward with any information they may have that could help identify each of the suspects and “to determine their exact involvement in this seemingly senseless incident,” said Miller.
“If you saw any part of this incident, or what led up to it, Hemet Police Detectives would like to speak with you,” the Lieutenant went on to say. “Investigators are also interested in any dash-cam video that motorists who were in the area at that time might have recorded.”
“Those in the area who may not have captured the collision, might have inadvertently recorded the group of young people leaving the area,” he continued, adding, “This information could be very beneficial to investigators.”
Family members have created a GoFundMe account which had accumulated nearly $1,600 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Potential witnesses are urged to contact Sergeant Gabe Gomez at (951) 765-2396 or [email protected].
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 51, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and operates Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS), which act as stringer-news providers for other mainstream media organizations throughout the two regions they serve.
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.