Two pedestrians struck by vehicle in Winco parking lot

Photo by Meagan Armstrong

By Doug Spoon, Editor

A pedestrian was seriously injured and a second person was also struck Saturday by a pickup truck in the Winco parking lot in the 3000 block of Case Road in Perris, authorities said.

A male, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital with “significant injuries,” according to Sgt. Wendy Brito-Gonzalez of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. He was trapped under the vehicle and had to be removed by deputies. The other pedestrian, who witnesses say was trapped against a parked vehicle during the collision, was not seriously injured, Brito-Gonzalez said.

The collision occurred about 12:53 p.m. when the truck collided with the pedestrians and several parked vehicles, according to CAL FIRE. Several witnesses stated on social media that it appeared the driver blacked out. Caleb Hayes told Menifee 24/7 “it seemed like the guy passed out because he basically just drove straight into them and he kept pushing down on the gas and his tires kept spinning out.”

“People were banging on his windows to get him awake,” said Meagan Armstrong, another witness, who described the driver as an elderly male.

Brito-Gonzalez said the driver, who has not been identified, is cooperating with the investigation. No arrests have been made. Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor, she said, and the investigation is ongoing.

The injured pedestrian has not been identified but appeared to be a young boy or perhaps a teenager, according to Brito-Gonzalez and witnesses. One witness said the other pedestrian struck was the boy’s father, and that the father and mother accompanied the ambulance to a local hospital.