Murrieta Man Dies In Crash Near Hemet

MURRIETA, CA — A Murrieta man was killed and another motorist seriously injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash between a sedan and SUV near Hemet.

The collision happened shortly after midnight near the intersection of Devonshire Avenue and Warren Road, just west of city limits, according to the Hemet Police Department.

A Mitsubishi Lancer and a Nissan Pathfinder impacted on Warren, but no other details were immediately available, police said.

Hemet Fire Department paramedics reached the location within minutes and found the driver of the Mitsubishi fatally injured. The coroner identified the man as 51-year-old Steve Montanez.

"The driver of the Pathfinder was extricated by firefighters and was transported to an area trauma center, where he was listed in critical condition," according to a police statement.

Only the drivers occupied the two vehicles.

North- and southbound lanes on Warren were shut down for hours as a result of the crash and ensuing preliminary investigation.

Hemet police turned the matter over to the California Highway Patrol after it was confirmed that the collision occurred in an unincorporated area, not within the city's jurisdiction.

—City News Service and Patch Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.