Hemet, CA. – On Friday, January 27, 2023, at approximately 9:36 pm, Hemet Police Officers responded to a major injury traffic collision near the intersection of Florida Avenue and Acacia Avenue. Officers arrived and located a gray Toyota Corolla off the south roadway edge of Florida Avenue and gray Toyota Tacoma within the eastbound lanes of Florida Avenue. Both vehicles had major collision damage and inside the Corolla officers located an unresponsive male subject in the driver’s seat. Medical aid was provided however; the driver of the Corolla had succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver of the Tacoma remained on scene and provided a statement prior to being transported to the hospital for medical care.
The Hemet Police Department’s Traffic Division responded to the scene and assumed the Investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the Corolla had been travelling eastbound on Florida Avenue at an excessive rate of speed, when he collided with the Tacoma which had made a left turn from The Royal Holiday Mobile Home Park onto eastbound Florida Avenue. Witness statements in addition to evidence located on scene suggests that the Corolla was travelling at a minimum speed of 75 MPH at the time of the collision. The alcohol and/or drug impairment of the driver of the Corolla is currently unknown, while investigators do not suspect the driver of the Tacoma was impaired. The identity of the deceased driver is being withheld pending this on-going investigation, however family has been notified. The eastbound lanes of Florida Avenue between Promenade Drive and Cawston Avenue were closed for several hours as traffic investigators conducted their investigation.
If you witnessed the collision or have any helpful information for traffic investigators you are urged to contact Sgt. Gabriel Gomez at (951) 765-3725.