Firefighters rescue Fil-Am in LA car crash

HEMET—Firefighters had to use the jaws of life to release a 20-year-old male driver of a Honda Accord, who was trapped in his vehicle after a head-on collision with a full-size Chevrolet truck.

Police did not release the name of the 20-year-old, but family members have identified him as a Filipino-American.

According to the police report, the three-car traffic collision occurred early Saturday morning on the Ramona Expressway between Eagle and San Jacinto Ave. in Hemet — a small city about 80 miles east of Los Angeles.

Preliminary investigation revealed the Chevrolet truck was eastbound on Ramona Expressway and crossed over into opposing traffic initially sideswiping a Dodge Dakota truck before colliding head-on with the Honda Accord.

Firefighters and AMR personnel had to conduct an extensive extrication operation to release the trapped 20-year-old male driver.

The Filipino-American was then airlifted to Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC).

The driver of the Dodge truck and the Chevrolet truck were also transported to RCRMC by ground ambulance.

The 20-year-old FilAm suffered major injuries including a shattered pelvis and broken kneecaps on both legs, according to family members who did not want to be named. He is in serious but stable condition.

Police investigators said the investigation is still ongoing. They are asking anyone witnessing this incident or with information relating to this collision to contact the San Jacinto Police Department’s Traffic Team at (951) 537-6411. Joseph Pimentel/AJPress