Two people were recovering Monday from injuries suffered in an SUV crash in Riverside that killed a 52-year-old man.
Ruben Armendarez of Corona died Friday night when his 2006 Jeep Wrangler plunged into a ravine near the intersection of Cadbury Drive and Yearling Street. His two passengers, whose names were not released, suffered minor to moderate injuries.
According to Riverside police Sgt. Matt Lewis, Armendarez was driving the Jeep along a steep ridgeline and “failed to negotiate the terrain,” causing the SUV to roll down the steep embankment about 8:25 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses called 911, and police officers and paramedics reached the location within minutes. Armendarez was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, Lewis said.
He said a Riverside County sheriff’s helicopter crew airlifted one of the passengers out of the ravine, and the patient was then taken by ambulance to a hospital. The other party did not require hospitalization.
The crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information was asked to contact the Traffic Bureau at 951-826-8724.