RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Two women killed when an Amazon Prime delivery truck slammed into a stopped Riverside County sheriff's patrol vehicle at the scene of a collision in Jurupa Valley were identified Thursday.
Ailene Beazley, 86, of Valley Center, and Monica Lopez, 35, of Riverside were fatally injured Saturday evening at the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and 56th Street.
The crash also injured two sheriff's personnel and the Amazon driver, according to the California Highway Patrol, which is handling the investigation at the request of the sheriff's department.
Officer Juan Quintero said that about 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Beazley and Lopez were involved in a non-injury collision on southbound Van Buren at 56th.
Because it was an accident and did not involve any suspected act of criminality, a sheriff's non-sworn community service officer went to the scene with a sheriff's volunteer in a marked sheriff's SUV that they parked in the roadway for the safety of the two motorists, who stayed with their respective vehicles, Quintero said.
He said the SUV was blocking the No. 1 lane on the southbound side of Van Buren, with overhead lights activated and flashing.
Roughly 40 minutes later, while the CSO and volunteer were conducting an investigation and speaking with the motorists, an Amazon Prime delivery van, going an unknown speed, entered the intersection via southbound Van Buren and plowed into the sheriff's vehicle, according to Quintero.
"The preliminary investigation revealed that the force of the collision pushed the patrol vehicle in a southerly direction and struck the four pedestrians," the CHP spokesman said.
Beazley and Lopez were killed on impact, he said. The CSO and volunteer each suffered major injuries, and the Amazon driver suffered minor injuries, according to Quintero.
"Drugs or alcohol impairment are not believed to be factors in the collision," he said.
Quintero said the injured parties were taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment.
They're all expected to recover, he said.
The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made.
An Amazon statement released to City News Service reads: "We're deeply saddened by this terrible accident, and our thoughts and sympathies are with those involved and their loved ones during this difficult time. We are working closely with law enforcement as they investigate."
(originally posted Mar 4 2021 https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/rivco-coroner-ids-women-killed-amazon-truck-crash)