Riverside motorist runs red light, killing local motorcyclist, 55

RIVERSIDE, Calif., — Authorities say a motorist who failed to stop for a red light struck and killed a motorcyclist early yesterday morning, Thursday, April 7.

The deadly crash happened at the intersection of Victoria and Arlington avenues and forced the hours-long closure of the intersection, according to officials.

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City of Riverside police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene around 5:05 a.m. after receiving several reports of a vehicle collision involving a passenger vehicle and motorcyclist, Riverside PD has since reported.

When officials arrived, they found an unresponsive motorcyclist down on the sidewalk at the corner of the intersection. His wrecked motorcycle and a second involved vehicle, described as a tan 2017 Chevy Spark with heavy front-end damage, and its driver, were found nearby.

A 55-year-old motorcyclist was killed after another motorist ran a red light and struck the rider in Riverside early yesterday morning. Duke Solorio photos

Paramedics were seen performing CPR on the critically injured motorcyclist; however, despite life-saving efforts, the motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.

The Riverside County Sheriff – Coroner’s Office has since identified Leroy Cowles II, 55, of Riverside, as the motorcyclist killed in the collision. A Coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 5:22 a.m.

The driver of the Chevy was uninjured in the collision and was cooperative with Riverside PD’s investigation.

During their subsequent investigation, officers determined that just before the collision the Chevy, which was being driven by a 64-year-old Riverside man, was traveling eastbound on Arlington Avenue approaching the intersection of Victoria Avenue.

At the same time the motorcyclist, who was riding a 2012 Kawasaki, began making a left-hand turn onto Victoria Avenue from westbound Arlington Avenue, according to Riverside PD, who said, “The Chevy entered the intersection on a red signal, striking the motorcycle.”

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Although Riverside PD’s investigation is ongoing, officials say they have ruled out alcohol and/or drug intoxication as contributing factors in the fatal collision.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is urged to call Riverside Police Traffic Detective Jeff Derouin at (951) 826-8722 or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number 220009332 and can remain anonymous.

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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). Both are stringer organizations, providing breaking news coverage and community interest stories 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.