Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Crash Claims 19-Year-Old Wildomar Resident

The crash occurred Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. on SR 74 near Perris.

UPDATED POST at 9 a.m.: The CHP has released more details on Wednesday night’s fiery crash that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Wildomar man.

Ronald Cole died at Inland Valley Medical Center at 11:36 p.m., just two-and-a-half hours after the multi-vehicle crash on SR 74 in unincorporated area near Perris.

According to a CHP news release, Cole was traveling westbound on SR 74 in a 2004 silver Honda Civic approaching Meadowbrook Ave. at approximately 9:05 p.m. He was traveling with two passengers, Sydni Adame, 19, of Wildomar, and Josh Webb, 19, of Lake Elsinore, according to the CHP.

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For an unknown reason, Cole “crossed the two-way left turn lane” directly into the path of an oncoming 2004 blue Honda Civic driven by Cody Testi, 23, of Riverside, according to the CHP. Testi’s speed was estimated at approximately 60 mph; Cole’s speed was unknown, the CHP reported.

The two vehicles collided head on, and Testi’s car spun across the westbound lanes and came to rest on the north shoulder of SR 74, the CHP reported.  Cole’s car spun into the eastbound #2 lane where it was hit broadside on the driver’s side door by a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Raul Padilla, 47, of Quail Valley, according to the CHP.

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“This impact caused extensive damage to [the Honda Civic] and severe injuries to Mr. Cole,” the CHP reported.

A fourth vehicle, a Chrysler 300 driven by Zina Harris, 58, of Lake Elsinore, was traveling behind the crash vehicles; her car sustained minor to moderate damage from hitting the crash debris, the CHP reported.  

According to the CHP, Adame was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries; Webb was transported to Menifee Valley Hospital with moderate injuries; Testi was treated at the scene with minor injuries; Padilla did not claim any injuries at the scene; Harris was transported to Menifee Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash investigation is on going, according to the CHP.

ORIGINAL POST: A three-vehicle crash on SR 74 in unincorporated area near Perris Wednesday night claimed the life of a 19-year-old Wildomar man.

According to a Riverside County Coroner’s Office news release, Ronald Cole died at Inland Valley Medical Center at 11:36 p.m.

The crash occurred at 9:05 p.m. on SR 74, just west of River Road, according to the coroner's office.

The coroner’s office is reporting that Cole was driving a compact sedan and crossed into oncoming traffic. He "struck several vehicles" and was not ejected, the coroner's office reported.

According to a news report from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, five patients were transported to area hospitals for treatment of injuries -- two critical, three minor to moderate.


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