Riverside Police Department
Press Release

 

For Immediate Release
Date November 9, 2002
Contact Sergeant Don Taulli 
Phone (909) 826-5576
Fax (909) 351-6051

 

Fatal Traffic Collisions

Location #1: Polk St. N/of Pendleton St.
Time: 6:30 AM

Driver: Vernon Parker (35)
City of Residence: Riverside, Ca.

Passenger: Kristi Reinhardt (23)
City of Residence: Colton, Ca.

Narrative: At approximately 6:30 AM a single vehicle collision occurred at the above location.  The vehicle (2002 Ford Focus) was traveling S/B Polk approaching Pendleton when it left the roadway.  The vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree.   

Members of the Riverside Fire department treated the driver and passenger at the scene.  Both were transported to Kaiser Hospital.  The driver was pronounced deceased by the emergency room staff.  The passenger suffered a possible fracture of the L/hand and chest pain.

 

 

Location#2: Arlington Av. @ Hawarden Dr. W/of Fairhaven St.
Time: 7:00 AM

Driver: Richard Ruiz (37) 
City of Residence: Riverside, Ca,                                         

Narrative: At approximately 7:00 AM a single vehicle collision occurred at the listed location.  The vehicle (Red/2000 Pontiac Grande Am ) contained one occupant who was the driver.  The driver was W/B Arlington at Hawarden when he drifted to his right and left the roadway.  The vehicle impacted with a tree and came to rest. 

Members of the Riverside Fire Department treated the driver of the vehicle at the scene.  He was transported to Riverside Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by the emergency room staff. 

The Riverside Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating both collisions.