HEMET, CA — Following a fatal two-vehicle collision last week near Hemet in which a Murrieta driver lost his life, authorities have confirmed that the second driver involved in the accident has also passed away.
Ethan Navarro, a 20-year-old resident of San Diego, tragically lost his life on Friday night at the Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. This sad development follows the serious injuries he sustained during the crash that occurred on October 25, as reported by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Bureau.
The collision transpired shortly after midnight at the intersection of Devonshire Avenue and Warren Road, situated just west of Hemet city limits, according to the Hemet Police Department.
Navarro was at the helm of a Nissan Pathfinder, while the other involved vehicle was a Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Steve Montanez, a 51-year-old from Murrieta.
Upon arrival at the scene, Hemet Fire Department paramedics found Montanez to be fatally injured.
Navarro was extricated from the Pathfinder and urgently transported to the trauma center in critical condition. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly before 9 p.m. on October 27.
It’s worth noting that only the two drivers were present in their respective vehicles.
As of now, authorities have not provided any information regarding the cause of the collision.
The aftermath of the crash, along with the subsequent preliminary investigation, resulted in the closure of north- and southbound lanes on Warren Road for several hours.
Hemet police transferred the case to the California Highway Patrol after confirming that the accident occurred in an unincorporated area, falling outside the jurisdiction of the city of Hemet.