On Aug. 9 at 12:40 p.m., Oscar Soria Juarez, 29 of Anaheim, was driving his 2019 Kawasaki Ninja eastbound on Highway 74 west of McGaugh Road. Preliminary investigations show he crossed over the double-yellow line colliding head-on with Donald Leroy VanRiper, 69 of Hemet, who was driving his black 2004 Honda VTX 1300 westbound on Highway 74 with his passenger Diane Haering, 79 of Hemet. Juarez was transported to Riverside University Health Systems Medical Center by AMR with major injuries. Haering was transported by Mercy Air to Riverside University Health Systems Medical Center with major injuries. VanRiper was pronounced deceased at the scene and was transported by the Riverside County Coroner. The Honda was towed by Idyllwild Garage. The owner of the Ninja made arrangements for the bike to be removed from the scene. Alcohol and drugs were not suspected as a contributing factor. The cause of the deadly collision is still under investigation.
Photo by Jenny Kirchner
There were four collisions (including two photos), one resulting in a fatality, on local roads and Highway 74 over the last week and a half, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Matt Napier.
On Aug. 3 at 7: 35 p.m., Chayton Martone Kenyon, 17 of Idyllwild, was driving his gray 2007 Mazda 3 westbound on Highway 74 just east of Dry Creek at a stated speed of 60-65 mph. Due to his unsafe speed, Kenyon lost control, crossed the double-yellow line and collided with Endellion Ann Murphey Trento, 18 of Idyllwild, driving her gray 2006 Subaru Impreza eastbound on Highway 74 at a stated speed of 35 mph. Trento was transported by AMR to Riverside University Health Systems Medical Center with a suspected broken leg. Kenyon was complaining of pain to his left arm but was not transported. Both vehicles were towed by Idyllwild Garage.
On Aug. 3 at 8:45 p.m., Christie Anne Colbert, 34 of Oceanside, was driving her black 2019 Toyota 4-Runner west on Overlook Drive. According to the California Highway Patrol, Colbert stated she was driving too fast, and due to her unsafe speed, made an unsafe turn and lost control hitting two vehicles parked in a private driveway. One was a silver 2017 Toyota Tundra, the other a white 2009 Toyota Highlander. No one was injured in the incident. Colbert’s vehicle was towed by Idyllwild Garage and the two parked vehicles were left at the scene.
Photo by Jenny Kirchner
On Aug. 3 at 8:10 p.m., Edward Reyes Loredo, 35 of La Quinta, was driving his blue 2011 Honda Civic westbound on Highway 74 just west of Carrizo Road at a stated speed of 45 mph. Brian Steven Torrez, 19 of National City, was driving his black 2005 Saturn Ion eastbound at a stated speed of 35 mph. For unknown reasons, Loredo lost control, crossed the double-yellow line into the eastbound lane colliding head-on with Torrez. Loredo was uninjured. Torrez was transported by AMR to Desert Regional Medical Center for lacerations. Both vehicles were towed by Valley Auto.
In the early-morning hours of Saturday, May 14, Riverside County Sheriff’s Cabazon Station deputies responded to the Palm Springs Tram regarding a report of a hiker in need of rescue. The lone hiker, identified as Daniel De Bias of La Quinta, was reported missing by friends after not returning on time and believed to be…
Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District recently responded to the following calls. • June 14 — Medical aid, 6:37 a.m. Pine Crest Ave.• June 14 — Medical aid, 11:45 a.m. Delano Rd.• June 14 — Unintentional smoke detector activation, 1:15 p.m. Macteckelwood Ln.• June 14 — Brush or brush-and-grass mixture fire, 10 a.m. Highway 74.•…
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his State Fire Chief and emergencydirector gave a briefing on the State’s preparation and readiness forthe current fire season. The setting was Cal Fire’s McClellan Air TankerBase in Sacramento. “The last couple years brought welcome relief for California as we sawhistorically low levels of wildfire,” Newsom began. “This season…
Editor’s note: This is from a Riverside County press release. Notices of Violation and Order to Abate overgrown weeds, dry grasses and other flammable vegetation will be mailed to property owners of unimproved parcels within the unincorporated areas of Riverside County this week. Pursuant to County Ordinances 695 and 772, property owners who receive a…