Last Updated on May 14, 2020 by CCAR Staff
A 27-year-old man died and another man was seriously injured in a possible DUI crash in the west end of Hemet, authorities said Wednesday, May 13.
David Jones of Hemet was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle wreck, which occurred shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday on North Kirby Street, just south of Fruitvale Avenue, according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.
Hemet police Sgt. Dan Reinbolt said Jones was a passenger in the 2019 Acura driven by 26-year-old Ernie Alaniz of San Jacinto, who was hospitalized with major injuries.
According to the sergeant, Alaniz was going southbound on Kirby “when he accelerated and lost control of the vehicle.”
“Alaniz drove onto the sidewalk on the west side of Kirby, where he collided into a tree,” Reinbolt said. “Witnesses report Alaniz displayed erratic driving behavior prior to the collision.”
Alaniz was in serious but stable condition, according to Reinbolt.
“DUI is suspected, and the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
