Fatal traffic accident in Temecula leaves 22-year-old pedestrian dead

               

       

                                         

Fatal traffic collision takes life of pedestrian

Victim was last seen lying face-down in the roadway just prior to being struck

All lanes of traffic along Rancho Vista Road closed for 8 hours 

during accident investigation 

Written by Trevor Montgomery

For hemeteyenews.com

Temecula, Calif.; On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, at approximately 5:05 a.m., the quiet Temecula morning was shattered by reports of a major injury traffic collision, occurring between a vehicle and a pedestrian. According to 911 callers, the accident had just occurred on Rancho Vista Road, east of Ynez Road in the city of Temecula.  

Callers reported that a black Acura sedan had run over a pedestrian who had been seen lying face down in the middle of the roadway just prior to being struck by the vehicle. Deputies from the Temecula Police station and emergency medical personnel rushed to the location of the traffic accident and began arriving within minutes of the first calls being received.

Upon their arrival at the chaotic scene, deputies and medical personnel found an adult female, later identified as 22-year-old Mica Sherman, suffering from major traumatic injuries. Sheriff's deputies immediately closed Rancho Vista Road, between Ynez Road and Mira Loma Drive. The road closure was necessary to ensure the safety of responding deputies, investigators, emergency medical personnel and other first responders. Emergency medical personnel attempted to perform life-saving measures, however Sherman succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident at approximately 5:20 a.m.

Sgt. Dean Spivacke of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department stated the unidentified male driver of the Acura involved in the collision remained at the scene after the accident and was cooperating fully with investigators. Sgt. Spivacke stated the driver of the Acura was cresting a hill as he traveled westbound on Rancho Vista Road approaching Ynez Road when the accident occurred. As the driver crested the hill he did not see Sherman until it was too late, at which time his vehicle ran her over as she lay face-down in the roadway. 

 Photo Credit: Kim Harris/www.myvalleynews.com

According to Sgt. Spivacke, it was unknown why Sherman was lying in the middle of the road. It was also unknown if Sherman had been the victim of a separate, unrelated incident prior to being struck by the Acura or if there were any other extenuating factors related to the her death. When asked why Sherman might have been lying in the roadway, Sgt. Spivacke stated, "We're still piecing those parts together."

Following the accident, all lanes of Rancho Vista Road between Ynez Road and Mira Loma Drive were closed and remained closed for approximately eight hours; while sheriff's investigators and the Temecula Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Team processed the scene of the fatal accident and looked for any evidence or anything that might shed light on what might have led to the accident.

As of around 11 a.m. this morning, members of the Temecula Police Department's accident reconstruction team were still at the location of the accident. Deputies could be seen taking photographs, collecting evidence, taking notes and using specialized 3D surveying equipment, specifically designed for accident reconstruction, to document and diagram the entire scene.

Throughout the morning and well into the afternoon, nearby residents, many from the nearby Vintage View Apartments, could be seen standing by themselves or gathered in small crowds. Most either talked quietly among themselves or talked on cell phones describing the scene of the accident to those they were speaking with. 

 Photo Credit: Kim Harris/www.myvalleynews.com

Some onlookers appeared to be saddened by what happened and many had tears in their eyes, especially upon learning how young the victim had been. The primary focus of conversation and speculation was why Sherman had been lying face-down in the middle of such a busy roadway. Only adding to the speculation was where the victim had been lying, just over the crest of a hill, where a motorist would have little to no time to react. 

Some bystanders did their best to use Sherman's general description to find out if anyone might have known who she was or if she had family who could be notified, while others were seen trying to photograph the accident scene. Most, upon hearing of Sherman's death, her approximate age and the strange circumstances regarding the incident, were left baffled as to what might have led to Sherman's untimely death. 

Neither alcohol nor drugs were considered to be a contributing factor in the incident on behalf of the driver of the Acura, however as of the time of this report the investigation was still ongoing.

In a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Sgt. Chad Loeffler urged anyone with information regarding this accident to contact Deputy Grip at the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000 or they can contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Dispatch Center after hours and on weekends at (951) 776-1099.

Contact the writer: trevor.hemeteyenews@gmail.com