Believed struck by two vehicles and left to die in roadway, Hemet man, 66, ID’d after deadly hit and run
HEMET, Calif., — Authorities say a 66-year-old Hemet man was killed when he was struck by at least one vehicle in Hemet and left to die in the roadway Wednesday evening, June 1. Although officials are still working to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the man’s death, a Hemet PD representative has said that after the victim was struck by the first vehicle and knocked to the ground within the lanes of traffic, the man was possibly run over by a second vehicle as he lay dying in the roadway.
The deadly hit and run occurred at the intersection of Florida Avenue and San Jacinto Street and as of today, no drivers suspected to have struck the victim have come forward or been identified and officials have asked that anyone who may have witnessed the collision(s) to contact them.
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City of Hemet police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene around 9:25 p.m. after receiving reports of a male down in the roadway who had been struck by at least one vehicle, Hemet Police Public Information Officer Alan Reyes has since reported.
Officials began arriving at the scene within minutes and found the victim down in the right turn lane of westbound Florida Avenue, just east of San Jacinto Street, and immediately began attempting to render aid to the man. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has since identified Jaime Martinez-Alvarez, 66, of Hemet, as the pedestrian who was killed. A Coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 9:27 p.m.
No others involved in the fatal hit and run were found at the scene, according to Reyes.
Based on the circumstances, members of Hemet PD’s Traffic Investigation Bureau (TIB) were summoned to the scene and ultimately assumed the investigation.
During their investigation, TIB members gathered information from witnesses and nearby security cameras that led them to determine that shortly before being struck the victim had been in the parking lot of the Bottle Shop Liquor Store on the south side of Florida Avenue, east of San Jacinto Street.
“The pedestrian then walked northeast into the eastbound lane of Florida Avenue and continued walking northeast into the westbound lanes of Florida Avenue,” Reyes explained. “The pedestrian was ultimately struck by a vehicle that was traveling westbound on Florida Avenue, just east of San Jacinto Street.”
“The vehicle that struck the pedestrian stopped briefly and then drove away – possibly north on San Jacinto Street,” Reyes continued, adding, “It is believed that the pedestrian may have been struck by a second vehicle that also did not stop.”
The first vehicle to strike the pedestrian is believed to have been a dark-colored, late model sedan – possibly a Dodge – but there is no information on the second vehicle, according to Reyes, who said, “At this time and it is not yet known if (the second vehicle) actually struck the pedestrian.”
Reyes went on to say that the victim was not using the nearby marked crosswalk and was crossing against east and west traffic, which had a green signal when the collision occurred.
He also reported that alcohol is believed to be a factor on the part of the pedestrian and added that it is not known if drugs or alcohol played a role with either of the drivers who were suspected of hitting the man.
While officials worked at the scene they called for the temporary closure of the westbound lanes of Florida Avenue, between Girard and San Jacinto streets, but the roadway was reopened several hours later.
Hemet PD’s investigation is continuing and anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the pedestrian’s behavior before the collision, or anyone with information that may help investigators identify and locate the suspect(s), is urged to contact The Hemet Police Department at (951) 765-2400. Callers can refer to incident file number 2022-03852 and can remain anonymous.
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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.