Car Accident at Main Gate in Canyon Lake 6/27/10

DUI driver causes five-car accident at Main Gate

The recent DUI checkpoint in Canyon Lake nabbed one DUI driver, but it was nine days too early to catch a suspected drunk driver who caused a major traffic collision at the intersection of Railroad Canyon Rd. and Canyon Lake Dr. South on Sunday, June 27, just before 5:30 p.m. The accident briefly resulted in the closure of the Main Gate and Railroad Canyon Rd.

Deputy Keibach of the Canyon Lake Police Department reports a white Ford Econoline panel van was traveling westbound on Railroad Canyon Rd. at a high rate of speed when it failed to stop for a red light. It hit a black Mustang, which was in the right-turn lane going into Canyon Lake and scraped the side of a full size silver GMC pickup that was in the lane next to the turn lane.

The impact sent the Mustang into the left side of Honda Odyssey van that was headed eastbound and starting to turn left into Canyon Lake. Kristy Toups, the driver of the Odyssey, says her van spun 360 degrees after being hit by the Mustang and was hit again by the DUI driver in the white panel van. The damaged Mustang and Odyssey ended up next to a full size white Chevy truck that was waiting to exit Canyon Lake next to the Main Gate fountain.

The panel van proceeded westbound across the intersection and onto the lawn that borders Railroad Canyon Rd. and the wall behind the Senior Center.

Deputy Keibach was in the turn lane behind Kristy Toups and witnessed the accident, according to Riverside Sheriff's Sgt. Gilbert Gonzalez, who says when Keibach saw the driver/suspect flee on foot toward the Main Gate, he gave chase and, with the help of bystanders, took the suspect into custody.

The driver and passenger of the Mustang were transported to Inland Valley Medical Center after complaining of pain, says Gonzalez.

Kristy and her son, Wes, a passenger in the Odyssey van, were shaken up but not injured, according to Kristy's husband, Bob Toups, a retired division chief with Cal-Fire. "If they were broadsided or hit head-on there would have been injuries, but the Mustang sideswiped one side of her van and the panel van sideswiped the other side," says Bob, who has seen more than his share of accidents in his years with the fire department.

Bob says he was called to the scene of the accident while playing in a tournament at the Tennis Courts. He praises Dep. Keibach for his quick response, as well as the other emergency responders. There were fire trucks from Station 60 and 94 on the scene, along with an AMR ambulance, Community Patrol, CLPD and three Menifee deputies.

"Traffic was a mess and there were lots of complaints about the closure of the Main Gate," says Gonzalez, who adds that the suspect was arrested and charged with DUI causing injury, hit and run causing injury, possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

Story that appeared in The Friday Flyer in Canyon Lake that includes photos:

http://thefridayflyer.com/FF-2010-7-2/FFS-14781.htm

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• car
• accident
• main
• gate
• canyon
• lake
• california
• 6/27/10
• debbie
• burton
• phillips
• granite
• shield

[graniteshield]

It was late in the day so I don't believe it's in the newspaper yet. I did hear a van ran a red light and several cars were hit. The guy in the van ran from the scene into Canyon Lake but was caught. Several homeowners wanted to help the police since he was resisting. An ambulance came and took several away. It does look like there were injuries. The Mustang had no rear end or back seat left.

[billearnest]

What a f!@#%$! IDIOT!!!!!!!!!

[anaroll2000]

Does anyone know if everyone was ok ? Are there any published articles in a newspaper with the story?

[anaroll2000]

Was everyone ok in this accident? Does anyone know if the story is in a newspaper?