Suspect dead and two injured after stolen vehicle crash in Moreno Valley
MORENO VALLEY, Calif., — Authorities say a man in a stolen vehicle who had successfully evaded Menifee police officers later died in a high-speed crash in Moreno Valley Friday morning, April 8. The crash, which sent two victims from another vehicle to the hospital with serious injuries, happened at the intersection of Perris Boulevard and Cactus Avenue, according to officials.
Although some media outlets have reported that deputies were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the deadly crash, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Brandy Swan told RCNS this morning that while a Sheriff’s helicopter was following the vehicle from overhead as it entered the City of Moreno Valley, “no deputies or other law enforcement officers were directly behind or actually pursuing the car at the time of the collision.”
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Swan went on to explain that at around noon, Sheriff’s Aviation Crew members put out a general broadcast that they were following a stolen white Nissan Sentra. The Aviation Crew advised that the vehicle had just eluded City of Menifee police officers, who had discontinued their pursuit in the area of Interstate 215 and Nuevo Road when the stolen vehicle left that city’s jurisdiction.
The Aviation Crew also advised that although the vehicle was no longer being pursued by any ground units, they were still following the speeding car from overhead by as it approached the City of Moreno Valley.
Officials say the driver of a stolen Nissan was killed after crashing into another vehicle in Moreno Valley yesterday afternoon. Lone Wolf News and Media photo
Hearing the Aviation Crew’s general broadcast, a deputy from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to the area of Perris Boulevard and San Michelle Road in an attempt to intercept the stolen Nissan.
Within moments, the deputy spotted the Nissan traveling northbound on Perris Boulevard in the opposing lanes of traffic at a high rate of speed.
“As the Nissan neared the intersection of Perris Boulevard and John F. Kennedy Avenue, it sideswiped another vehicle, while recklessly swerving in and out of traffic and passing in between vehicles,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Grmusha said in a release after the deadly crash.
“A deputy in the area of the intersection deployed a spike strip in an attempt to quickly and safely disable the fleeing Nissan; however, the suspect was able to continue northbound at a high rate of speed even though it had run over the spikes,” he continued.
“As the Nissan continued northbound on Perris Boulevard and entered the intersection with Cactus Avenue against a red signal light, it struck the passenger side of a gray Toyota Tundra that was traveling eastbound on Cactus Avenue.”
CHP MAIT investigators are seen conducting an investigation into a fatal collision that killed a man who had evaded City of Menifee police officers before crashing in Moreno Valley. Lone Wolf News and Media photo
The impact of the collision sent both vehicles careening into a cinderblock wall located at the intersection’s northeast corner, with the pickup truck coming to rest partly on top of the Nissan.
The Toyota’s driver and passenger were found to have suffered from serious injuries and both were transported to an area hospital for further treatment.
The driver and sole occupant of the stolen Nissan, whose name has not yet been released, was found to have sustained major traumatic injuries as a result of the collision and despite life-saving measures taken by paramedics passed away at the scene.
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“At the request of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station, the California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to assume the collision investigation, which remains ongoing,” Grmusha continued.
The investigation required the closure of Perris Boulevard, between Brodiaea and Delphinium avenue, as well as Cactus Avenue, from Victor Drive to Agave Street, which have all since been reopened.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Chris Loucks of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6832 or Officer Martin of the California Highway Patrol—Riverside Office at (951) 637-8000. Callers can refer to incident file number MV220980171 and can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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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.