Eight students were injured Wednesday outside of Hemet High School when a pickup truck ran a red light and drove through a crowd in a crosswalk.
Hemet High junior Daniel Carrillo, 18, was the driver who accelerated through the light after traveling above the 25-mph speed limit in the school zone, according to a statement released by California Highway Patrol Officer Darren Meyer.
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The incident occurred just after school let out at 2:42 p.m. at the crosswalk connecting the school to the football stadium on May 30. Of the eight students who were transported from the scene, three were in critical condition and five had minor injuries, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The latest report is that four students have been released, two are in hospital care with moderate injuries, and two are still in critical condition.
Carrillo was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger which is currently under inspection by CHP. In the truck with him were his twin brother David and a 16-year-old friend, Armando Gonzalez. Drug nor alcohol use were a factor in the collision.
Seven of the students were transported to Riverside Regional Hospital and one was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center. There were a total of six females and two males, all students at Hemet High.
“As Carrillo was approaching the intersection of Bulldog Way, numerous students, approximately 30, were crossing Stetson Avenue at the signal light,” Meyer said. “Carrillo failed to stop at the signal and the front of his truck collided with a large group of pedestrians in the crosswalk.”
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
“Criminal charges on the driver, if any, will be determined after all evidence is examined,” Meyer said. “The driver stopped immediately after the collision to assist the victims.”
The incident occurred at the tail-end of a turbulent year for Hemet High School, just two days before the class of 2012 graduated. Two student suicides and an on-campus teacher-student sexual relationship have already swept through the campus, leaving many thankful the school year is over.
In an earlier interview with The Valley Chronicle, Hemet High School Principal Emily Shaw said she was pleased with how well her students had reacted to the school’s trials.
“Hemet High has handled so much this year,” Shaw said. “In spite of everything, our kids have been pretty resilient. They not only survived, but thrived.”
As for the incident on Wednesday, Shaw said the students were doing the right thing by using the crosswalk properly.
According to a release by the Hemet Unified School District, crises counselors are available on campus to support the needs of students and staff.
Additional details of the incident will be released after the truck undergoes a full mechanical inspection.
