Victim ID’d In Deadly Hemet Crash

HEMET, CA — A 39-year-old man was fatally injured in a two-car collision near downtown Hemet when the driver of the vehicle he was riding in lost control and veered into oncoming traffic, authorities said Wednesday.

Angel Rodela Jr. of San Jacinto was killed about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday on Warren Road just north of Stetson Avenue, according to the Hemet Police Department.

Lt. Eric Dickson said that Rodela was in the rear seat of a Nissan sedan headed southbound on Warren at roughly 50 mph when the driver, whose identity was not disclosed, allowed the car to drift onto the shoulder.

"The driver of the Nissan attempted to regain control of the vehicle but over-corrected, causing the Nissan to skid in a southeast direction, into the northbound lane of Warren," Dickson said.

The sedan ended up in the path of a Toyota SUV, also traveling at 50 mph, the lieutenant said.

"The driver of the Toyota was unable to stop and collided with the passenger side of the Nissan," he said.

The impact injured all three occupants of the car, as well as the SUV driver, who wasn't identified.

Hemet Fire Department paramedics pronounced Rodela dead at the scene.

The injured parties were taken to a regional trauma center for treatment of major injuries, according to Dickson.

The victims are expected to recover.

Dickson said that neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors in the collision.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact the police department at 951-765-2400.