Excessive speed cited in Winchester collision that killed Menifee man, 23
WINCHESTER, Calif., — Authorities say a Menifee man was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his BMW and was killed in a two-vehicle crash in the unincorporated community of Winchester Tuesday afternoon, May 3.
The deadly crash, which sent another driver to the hospital with minor injuries, happened along Winchester Road (Highway 79), near Winchester Farms south of Patterson Avenue, according to officials.
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California Highway Patrol – San Gorgonio Pass and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, along with Cal Fire – Riverside and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 1:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a two-vehicle crash with entrapment, CHP and Cal Fire have since reported.
When officials arrived, they found a white Toyota pickup truck and black BMW with two involved drivers and determined the driver of the BMW had already succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene, CHP Officer Jason Montez reported today.
The deceased man has been described as a 23-year-old Menifee resident, but his name has not been released pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.
The driver of the Toyota, described as a 44-year-old San Bernardino man, sustained minor injuries in the collision and was transported by ground ambulance for further evaluation and treatment of lower back pain.
During their subsequent investigation, CHP determined that just before the collision, the BMW was heading north on Winchester Road, south of Patterson Avenue, “at a high rate of speed”, while the driver of the Toyota was traveling south.
As the driver of the BMW attempted to navigate a sweeping left curve in the road his vehicle drifted onto the dirt shoulder before careening across the two-lane road, directly into the path of the oncoming pickup truck.
Unable to stop in time or swerve to avoid a collision, the Toyota plowed into the out-of-control BMW, causing both vehicles to swerve off the roadway.
“The Toyota’s front end crashed into the BMW’s right side, killing the car’s driver,” explained Montez.
Southbound Highway 79 was closed for several hours, while officials worked at the scene, but the roadway has since been reopened.
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Alcohol and/or drug intoxication have not yet been ruled out and CHP’s investigation is continuing.
Anyone with additional information about this crash or who witnessed the fatal collision and has not yet provided a statement is encouraged to contact CHP Public Information Officer Jason Montez at (951) 769-2000 ext. 221. Callers can refer to incident file number 9655202200754 and can remain anonymous.
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). 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.