UPDATED: Deputy Hospitalized After Crash in San Jacinto

SAN JACINTO (CNS) – A Riverside County sheriff’s patrol deputy was seriously injured Friday in a collision in San Jacinto that also injured a civilian motorist, as well as a deputy who attempted to pull his fellow lawman to safety.

The crash happened about 2:15 a.m. at the intersection of Esplanade Avenue and State Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Jason Montez said that the deputy, identified only as a 26- year-old man, was traveling westbound on Esplanade in his marked sheriff’s SUV and entered the intersection at the same time as a Nissan Maxima going north on State.

“The two vehicles crashed in the intersection, which is controlled by traffic lights,” Montez said. “After the collision, the sheriff’s patrol vehicle crashed into a light pole.”

The SUV was hit on the driver’s side.

Montez did not specify which motorist was at fault, a determination that is expected to be made in the course of the CHP’s investigation.

Sheriff Chad Bianco said that the deputy suffered “substantial injuries” and was taken to a regional trauma center in critical condition.

He said that another patrolman, who reached the location prior to firefighters, attempted to “extract” the injured deputy and suffered a knee injury as a result. That deputy was also taken to a hospital for treatment and has since been sent home to recover.

According to Montez, the 54-year-old woman at the wheel of the Nissan, identified only as a Hemet resident, suffered minor injuries and was also hospitalized.

The CHP’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is conducting the crash investigation. Under a long-standing sheriff’s department policy, the CHP is tasked with handling independent evaluations whenever sheriff’s vehicles are involved in wrecks.

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