HEMET, Calif. — CHP is investigating the cause of a single vehicle rollover crash in Hemet that left the injured driver trapped inside his wrecked vehicle Tuesday afternoon, May 26.
According to witnesses the driver was speeding and driving recklessly when he lost control and crashed in a residential neighborhood on Cornell St., between Johnston and Stetson avenues.
The crash was one of two major accidents the same day involving speeding and reckless driving in the Hemet area. The other high-speed crash happened when a speeding and reckless driver swerved into oncoming traffic after nearly rear-ending another car on SR-74. The unsafe turning movement caused the sedan to plow head-on into an SUV.
CHP, Cal Fire, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene about 1:23 p.m., after receiving reports of a high-speed, solo-vehicle rollover crash.
911 callers reported the vehicle had careened out of control, clipping another vehicle and smashing into a set of postal boxes, before coming to rest on its wheels in the middle of the street.
Firefighters work to free a trapped and injured driver who lost control while speeding and driving recklessly through a residential neighborhood yesterday afternoon. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
When officials arrived they found a wrecked and heavily damaged burgundy Dodge, with good Samaritans attempting to help the injured and trapped driver.
Firefighters used the “Jaws of Life” to extricate the driver from the destroyed car and the man was transported by ground ambulance to Riverside University Health System in Moreno Valley.
His current condition was not known as of this report.
Witnesses later said despite the street’s 35 mph posted speed limit the driver, whose identity was unknown, was traveling northbound on Cornell St. from Stetson Ave. at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his vehicle.
It was not immediately known if alcohol or drug intoxication were contributing factors in the crash.
The wrecked Dodge was later towed from the scene and CHP’s investigation is continuing.
Source: Riverside County News