California Highway Patrol investigators are working to complete their investigation before going ahead with seeking charges against a 39-year-old man suspected of killing two people and injuring others in a driving under the influence wreck in Winchester, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.
Delwyn Dewion Randle of Westminster was arrested after the crash 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, but he was released from custody late Friday afternoon after no criminal complaint was filed at the point he reached his speedy arraignment window guaranteed under state law.
“After consultation with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and not yet receiving the toxicology reports back, the CHP has yet to file its completed report (on the investigation),” San Gorgonio office spokesman Officer Jason Montez told City News Service.
“After we receive the toxicology report, the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team report and having a full completed investigation, we will recommend charges accordingly,” he said.
The CHP 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, Montez said.
He said adjacent to the BMW, also stopped for the light, was a Dodge Durango SUV.
According to the CHP spokesman, the driver of the Chevy spotted the box truck barreling toward her 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,” he 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, 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.