Driver In Deadly Winchester Crash Released From Jail

WINCHESTER, CA —A 39-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence in a truck that plowed into two vehicles in Winchester, killing two people, was out of custody Monday after no charges were filed against him.

Delwyn Dewion Randle of Westminster was arrested after the wreck about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday on Domenigoni Parkway at Leon Road. Randle was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of DUI resulting in death, and until late Friday afternoon, he had been held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

According to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, a request for charges was not submitted to the agency. The sheriff's department released Randle after his two-day speedy arraignment window guaranteed under state law lapsed, jail records showed.

There was no explanation Monday from the California Highway Patrol's San Gorgonio office as to why a criminal complaint hadn't been sought.

The CHP had alleged Randle caused the deaths of Israel Bermudez, 25, of Buena Park and Paloma Casares, 32, of Hemet.

According to the agency, the suspect was at the wheel of a 2013 International box truck going eastbound on Domenigoni at an unknown speed without slowing after the light turned red at the intersection.

In the same lane as the box truck, stopped for the light, were a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2022 BMW X3, which was just ahead of the Chevy, CHP Officer Jason Montez said.

He said adjacent to the BMW, also stopped for the light, was a Dodge Durango SUV.

Montez said the driver of the Chevy spotted the box truck barreling toward his rear and managed to maneuver to the left to avoid being struck flush.

"The International box truck crashed into the right rear of the Chevy before crashing into the rear of the BMW, pushing it in a southeasterly direction into a ditch," the CHP spokesman said. "The truck continued and crashed into a light pole, sheering it off at its base, before crashing into a fire hydrant."

Debris struck the Dodge, but didn't cause major damage.

County fire paramedics arrived within 15 minutes and pronounced Bermudez and Casares, both of whom were in the BMW, dead at the scene. Casares was driving the sedan, and Bermudez was in the left rear passenger seat.

The third occupant of the BMW, in the front passenger seat, identified only as a 31-year-old Beaumont man, suffered moderate injuries, according to the fire department.

The Chevy driver, identified only as a 32-year-old Hemet woman, suffered minor injuries. She and the BMW passenger were taken to a hospital for treatment and were expected to fully recover.

Montez alleged officers determined Randle was under the influence of drugs, and he was taken into custody without incident. He did not require medical attention.

The driver and passenger in the Dodge, who weren't identified, were uninjured.

Eastbound lanes were completely shut down until late Wednesday afternoon because of the crash, which caused 50 gallons of diesel and oil from the truck to spill onto the roadway and flow into storm drains, according to the fire department. A hazardous materials unit conducted a clean-up operation.

Eastern Municipal Water District personnel capped the hydrant.