“On January 12th, our beloved Jocelyn was tragically taken from us in a senseless accident caused by a drunk driver. As an only child, Jocelyn’s loss is devastating not only to her family but to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her,” according to a GoFundMe page. “She leaves behind her heartbroken parents, close family, and a community that will forever feel the void of her vibrant spirit.”

At approximately 12:20 a.m. Sunday, Riverside County deputies were called to a crash at the intersection of Placentia Avenue and the southbound Interstate 215 offramp in Perris.

According to the sheriff’s department, the wreck involved a Toyota sedan driven by Jocelyn Mendoza and a Dodge truck driven by Ivan Jerome Simmons, a 23-year-old Perris resident.

Mendoza was exiting the southbound I-215 at Placentia Avenue when the Dodge, traveling westbound on Placentia Avenue, collided with it in the intersection.

Mendoza was unresponsive and had significant injuries. She was pronounced deceased at the scene, the sheriff’s department said.

Simmons ran from the crash but was found a short distance away and later arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run causing death, DUI causing bodily injury, and reckless driving. He remained jailed Monday night at Southwest Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records.

Mendoza’s parents are facing an unimaginable tragedy, the GoFundMe post said. She “was intelligent, funny, full of life, and incredibly kind. Her infectious laugh and compassionate nature made her a joy to be around.”

The young woman was “a proud graduate of UC Irvine,” so close to finishing her master’s degree, the GoFundMe post continued. She appeared to be working in her chosen field at the time of her death.

“Jocelyn’s dedication to her community was evident in her work as a substitute teacher at the California Military Institute, where she touched countless lives with her passion for teaching and her caring, selfless heart,” according to the GoFundMe post, which is raising money for Mendoza’s parents to help with funeral expenses, medical costs, “and to provide financial assistance as they navigate the painful journey ahead.”

As of 6 p.m. Monday, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $11,000.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Deputy Jess Kiebach of the Perris Sheriff’s Station at 951-210-1000 or the Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951-776-1099.

The post Community Mourns After Only Child Killed In I-215 Crash, Arrest Made appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified Derek Holt, 40, of Hemet, as the victim killed in the deadly incident.

Shortly before 8 a.m., emergency officials arrived at the crash scene on Acacia Avenue just west of Kirby Street in Hemet, where a passenger vehicle had collided with a City of Hemet Public Works utility truck. Holt, a city employee, was struck while outside of his vehicle, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jonathan Torres. He was found unresponsive at the scene as a result of the crash.

“Officers immediately began providing first aid, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on the scene,” Torres said.

CHP assumed the investigation and arrested the driver—who remained at the scene—on suspicion of DUIs. The driver was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, awaiting formal charges, according to Torres.

During the incident, officers closed a section of Acacia Avenue, both east and westbound, between S. Sanderson Avenue and Kirby Street, which remained closed much of the day.

No further information was immediately available.

The post City Worker ID’d As Victim Of Hemet Crash, Suspected DUI Driver Arrest appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of LEMX,” the track’s operators wrote on Facebook earlier this week.

They added that the owners of the property had terminated their contract due to a lawsuit over the deadly accident, which occurred in June.

“It was their decision it would be in their best interest to have the track closed. I can’t say I blame them. All in all they have been very good to deal with as has the City of Lake Elsinore,” according to the Facebook post.

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to see you all at the track,” the post concludes.

Brooke Carlton of Vista was pronounced dead on June 2 — the day of the accident — at Wildomar’s Inland Valley Hospital. Her death was recorded 80 minutes after the 10:04 incident at the track located at 20700 Cereal Street, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Bureau.

According to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, which is investigating the fatal crash, Brooke was riding an electric motorbike at the park and was struck by another juvenile who was also riding an off-road motorbike. She was unconscious when first responders arrived at the scene.

The other child involved in the crash was treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to the sheriff’s station.

The Carton started a GoFundMe in June to help the family overcome their grief as they mourned a daughter described as “an absolute sweetheart” and a “total spitfire” with glittering eyes and a toothy smile.

The family has raised $85,310 to date. The donation page can be found here.

“Yesterday the good Lord called our dear Brooke Lily to heaven after a freak accident at a local motocross track,” the family wrote on June 3. “PLEASE lift our family into your thoughts and prayers, and hold your loved ones a little tighter for us as we try to navigate through this sudden hurdle in our lives. We love you always and forever Brooke Lily.”

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Uniform lines of black, brown, blue and green surrounded the “Safe in His Arms” memorial statue Wednesday evening, May 8, at the annual Riverside County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony in Riverside.

Some in sharp jackets and hats and some still sweating from the 1.5 mile jog honoring the fallen officers of 2023, all there united in somber grief with the family, friends and community members still heartbroken and mourning.

This year, the names of Riverside County sheriff’s deputies Darnell Calhoun and Brett Harris, both who died in the line of duty, will be added to the memorial statue.

Calhoun, 30, was shot and killed on Jan. 13, 2023, while responding to a domestic violence call near Lake Elsinore. Harris, 27, died May 13, 2023, as a result of injuries suffered in a crash the previous day in San Jacinto.

District Attorney Mike Hestrin and Sheriff Chad Bianco addressed the crowd Wednesday evening, sharing words of reassurance and empathy.

Hestrin emphasized a solemn vow, “to keep their memory alive we must revisit these somber memories, but not dwell in sorrow, but to honor their courage and selflessness.” Bianco echoed the sentiment. He acknowledged the impact the loss had on the law enforcement community, “the pain that falls onto the family also falls onto their ‘work family.’ It is still very real for those in the line of work, we all lose a brother or sister when we lose someone in our profession.”

The ceremony included a tribute to all 75 Riverside County fallen law enforcement officials. Surviving family members solemnly read the names, while representing deputies and officers rose from their seats for each year.

A flag-folding ceremony and gun salute by the Riverside County Honor Guard marked the event’s conclusion. As two helicopters soared above downtown Riverside, the audience gazed upward, offering hope and remembrance for those who have fallen in the line of duty.

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