Hit-and-run crash takes out perimeter fence at theater site

Perimeter fencing remained on the ground Wednesday after a vehicle crashed into it in front of the Krikorian Theater site Monday night. (Staff photo)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

UPDATE: The damaged perimeter fence was replaced as of Thursday morning.

The Krikorian Theater walls, though cracked and crumbling, are still standing. But the property's perimeter fencing has a huge gap in it today, providing an even clearer view of the structure one City Council member called “a blight” on the city.

In a single-vehicle collision late Monday night, a car veered to the right off eastbound Newport Road and smashed through the construction chain-link fence, taking out a fire hydrant and knocking down about a 12-foot section of the green tarp-covered fencing. Ironically, the gap that is still there today is directly in front of the section of theater wall that is cracked and leaning to the south at the upper portion.

The accident occurred about 11:30 p.m., according to Menifee Police Department Captain Dave Gutierrez. Officers responded to a call about the accident to find the vehicle abandoned at the site and the driver gone from the scene. The incident is being investigated as a hit-and-run.

Officers were able to identify the driver by the vehicle’s license plate, but before the driver could be contacted, he or she walked into the police department and identified themselves on Tuesday. The gender of the driver and other information about the accident and possible criminal charges was not immediately available.

Because the construction fence is placed inside the sidewalk on private property, owner George Krikorian is responsible for the repairs, said Dominique Samario, public information officer for the City of Menifee. She said Krikorian has been contacted about the need for fence repairs. Today, the gap in the fence remains, with yellow police tape across it.

Eastern Municipal Water District crews have repaired the damage to the fire hydrant, assuring there is still emergency water access to the site.

Menifee 24/7 reported earlier that the City of Menifee Code Enforcement Department issued a notice of a public nuisance violation on Jan. 28 regarding the deteriorating condition of the north wall, which is constructed of foam blocks not yet filled with concrete, supported by metal posts. The City followed that up with a “failure to comply” notice on Feb. 12.

According to Samario, Krikorian was recently issued a citation for continued failure to address the situation. Krikorian did not respond to a request for comment for this news article.

During a City Council meeting on Jan. 20, new City Council member Bob Karwin called the theater project a "blight" and requested some sort of action be taken by city code enforcement. The first public nuisance notice was issued just over a week later.

Menifee 24/7 reported in a Feb. 23 news article that Krikorian is involved in a lawsuit with the developer and several sub-contractors over the Menifee Town Center theater site, at which construction work stopped a year ago. When asked in an interview in that article about the damaged theater wall, Krikorian said, “We hope to get the wall taken care of soon.”

A closeup view from the northwest corner of the property shows the increasing damage to the theater wall. (Staff photo)