A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was killed Wednesday morning in an on-duty crash on Highway 91, authorities confirmed, at least the fifth fatality for the department in more than three years.
It is with “immeasurable sadness and heavy hearts” that Sheriff Chad Bianco announced that Deputy Timothy Corlew, who was assigned to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station, has passed away from injuries sustained in an accident.
The sheriff’s office provided no further information or immediate answers to questions.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of an incident that occurred shortly before 6 a.m. on the westbound I-91 Freeway at La Sierra Avenue. The exit was closed indefinitely due to an investigation.
Video from the scene showed the sheriff’s motorcycle crumpled and upside down near a median about 30 yards from a Toyota sedan that was struck from behind.
The deputy’s equipment was scattered on the highway.
CHP said it would release further information later Wednesday afternoon.
Corlew’s death is one of three fatal vehicle crashes for the department since 2023 and one of five fatal vehicle crashes overall since December 2022.
In May 2023, 26-year-old Deputy Brett Harris was seriously injured in a San Jacinto car crash and died a week later. Harris collided with a Nissan Maxima sedan and crashed into a utility pole.
April 2023, 23-year-old lieutenant andrew davidson He was killed when his Yamaha motorcycle collided with a Toyota Camry in Riverside. Mr. Davidson was off duty at the time.
Two people have previously been killed in shootings.
On January 13, 2023, Deputy Darnell Calhoun, 30, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call in the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village. The killing came one week after the funeral of Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 32, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley on Dec. 29, 2022.
Cordero became the first Riverside County deputy to die in the line of duty since 2003.
This is a developing story.
