Two sheriff’s deputies were recovering in the hospital Monday with major injuries, but two other people were killed when an Amazon delivery truck slammed into the deputies’ patrol vehicle that had responded to another accident in Jurupa Valley.
The two deputies were standing near the drivers of the two vehicles in the original accident when all four were struck by the unoccupied patrol vehicle that was pushed into the victims by the Amazon truck, according to the California Highway Patrol. Both those vehicle drivers were killed in the second accident.
The initial crash took place at 5:54 p.m. Saturday at the intersection Van Buren Boulevard at 56th Street in the city of Jurupa Valley. just west of the city of Riverside, according to the California Highway Patrol. That crash investigation was being handled by the two members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department who were injured, said CHP Riverside spokesman Juan Quintero.
Authorities had originally reported that only one deputy was injured.
The two injured Riverside sheriff’s personnel included a community service officer and a volunteer deputy, Quintero said. The age and gender of those two victims was not immediately disclosed.
While investigating the first accident, the sheriff’s CSO used the patrol vehicle to block the No. 1 southbound lane of Van Buren. That patrol vehicle was parked behind the two vehicles involved in the original crash.
Around 6:34 p.m., the Amazon Prime delivery truck was headed south on Van Buren when it rammed the unoccupied patrol vehicle, Quintero said. The force of the collision drove the patrol vehicle into the four nearby pedestrians. Two of the people hit were the Riverside sheriff’s personnel, who were both taken to a local hospital with major injuries. The CHP said the injured deputies are expected to survive.
The other two people hit were the drivers of the vehicles involved in the first accident, Quintero said. Both of those people suffered major injuries and died at the scene. Their names were withheld pending family notifications.
The driver of the Amazon truck was transported to a hospital complaining of pain. Neither alcohol nor drugs were believed to be factors in the second crash, Quintero said.
Anyone with information was asked to call CHP Officer C. Mogi at 951 637-8000.