riverside

Christopher Barton Tatro, 40, of Corona, was killed in a Riverside car accident, which police report, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news article in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal hit-and-run accident occurred on the 91 Freeway, near Monroe Street, during the early morning hours of December 17, 2011.

Officials say Tatro was operating the controls of the hydraulic lift on a tow truck when a tan sedan, possibly a beige late-1990s Saturn, struck the left side of the tow truck. The driver of the vehicle did not stop, and was last seen exiting the freeway at Adams Street. Tatro suffered massive injuries to his legs and torso and succumbed to his injuries a couple of hours later. The authorities are searching for the car, which they believe sustained damage to its right side, including damage to the right mirror, wheels and headlight. Witnesses with information about the incident or the suspect may contact the California Highway Patrol Inland Division at 909-806-2400.

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Lola J. Matson, 31, of Vista, was killed in a Riverside car accident after she lost control of her vehicle, which rolled over several times and ejected her. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal rollover accident occurred during the early morning hours of December 15, 2011. Police say Matson was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer south on Winchester Road in Murrieta, near the French Valley Airport, when she suddenly turned left, went over the center median and hit the east curb line. The car rolled over several times and went down an embankment. Matson was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. An investigation is ongoing.

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James Scott Rogers, 46, was killed in a Riverside County motorcycle accident after he lost control of his Harley-Davidson and crashed. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred on Thousand Palms Canyon Road in Desert Hot Springs, the afternoon of November 27, 2011. Officials say Rogers veered off the road and struck the dirt shoulder. Rogers, who was wearing a novelty helmet that did not meet federal safety standards, suffered fatal head injuries and died at the scene of the crash. It is not clear what caused him to lose control of the Harley-Davidson.

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Mike McCoy, 42, and Patrick Ryan, 22, were killed in a Riverside car accident after their vehicles collided head-on, the morning of November 27, 2011. According to a report in The Southwest Riverside News Network, the fatal accident occurred on Winchester Road near 9th Street in Winchester. California Highway Patrol officials say Ryan, who was driving a Toyota Scion south on State Route 79 swerved into the opposing lane of traffic and hit a Toyota Camry driven by McCoy. Both Ryan and McCoy were pronounced dead at the scene of a crash. A female passenger in the Camry was taken to an area hospital with severe injuries.

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A 50-year-old Cypress woman was killed in a Riverside car accident after the Ford Explorer she was driving blew a tire and overturned in the center median. According to a CBS news report, the fatal rollover crash occurred on the 15 Freeway near Corona, the night of November 11, 2011. The woman was traveling at about 70 mph when the Explorer's right rear tire blew out. She lost control of the vehicle, which then rolled over. The woman was ejected from the SUV. Officials suspect she was not wearing her seatbelt. The woman's husband, who was a passenger in the front seat, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

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One small dog was killed and two others were attacked in a dog bite incident in Lake Elsinore after two pit bulls went on a frightening rampage. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the incident occurred October 31, 2011. Police say the two loose pit bulls, which had a history of similar attacks, bit 48-year-old Anna McDonald's 4-year-old papillon, Sydney. McDonald said she was running with her dog when the pit bulls came out of nowhere and ripped Sydney right in front of her. McDonald told the newspaper: "They weren't dogs. These were some other kind of creature."

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Beverly Glass, 72, of Morongo Valley, was seriously injured in a Riverside car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the injury collision occurred the afternoon of October 12, 2011 when Glass' vehicle stalled on the 10 Freeway near North Indian Canyon Drive in Indio. Glass was trying to walk across traffic lanes to get help when a black, late model Volkswagen Jetta hit her.

She was thrown onto the shoulder of the freeway. The female driver apparently stopped and talked to several witnesses and then got in the car and drove away. Officials say the driver was wearing a white tank top and blue pants, was about 25 years old, 5-foot-4 and 110 pounds with shoulder-length brown hair. Glass was transported to a local hospital with major injuries. Anyone with information about the suspect or vehicle is asked to contact California Highway Patrol officials at 760-772-8911.

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Two girls, 12 and 9, were injured in a dog bite incident after a pit bull mix attacked them. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the dog attack occurred in a shopping center along 48th Avenue, near Jackson Street, in Coachella, the night of August 23, 2011. Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were called to scene after the pit bull mix attacked the children who were walking on the south sidewalk of 48th Avenue. The 12-year-old girl sustained a serious leg injury while the other girl suffered relatively minor injuries. Officers tried to control the dog. But when the dog attacked the officers, one of them shot the animal, killing it.

My heart goes out to these young dog bite victims, especially the girl who has suffered serious injuries. I wish them both the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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A man was seriously injured in a Riverside car accident after a car struck his motorcycle, the afternoon of July 25, 2011. According to a KPSP news report, the motorcycle accident occurred on Mountain View Road, near Varner Road, in Cathedral City. An investigation is underway to determine what caused the car to hit the motorcycle. The motorcyclist sustained major injuries and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. No one else was hurt in the crash. It is unclear if the car driver will be cited for the crash.

My thoughts and prayers are with the man injured in this Riverside motorcycle accident. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

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Police in Hemet are looking for a man suspected in a hit-and-run car accident, which killed 77-year-old Ervina Keller, a senior United Way volunteer. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred as Keller was walking to her sister's house on Acacia Avenue, near Thompson Street, the evening of July 6, 2011.

Police say Keller was struck by a green Ford Windstar van, which fled the scene. According to officials, 47-year-old Salvador Almanza drove the van. Keller was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials are still looking for Almanza, who they believe has since fled the area. Anyone with information about Almanza's whereabouts is asked to contact Officer Eric Goodwyn at 951-765-2433.

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