Dad, 10-Year-Old Son ID'd After Fatal Crash Involving Fire Truck In Hemet

HEMET, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau has released the identities of the father and young son killed last week in a Hemet crash involving a county fire engine.

The victims, Arthur Fernandez Jr., 43, and his 10-year-old son, Arthur Fernandez — both of San Jacinto — were identified Monday.

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The crash occurred at 12:24 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Domenigoni Parkway and State Street.

Cal Fire Capt. John Clingingsmith told City News Service a fire crew was en route to a blaze burning along Highway 74 at the western edge of the San Bernardino National Forest when the collision occurred.

The fire engine was traveling northbound on State Street with its emergency lights and siren activated when it crashed with a Mini Cooper driven by the elder Fernandez. He was traveling west on Gibbel Road, which becomes Domenigoni Parkway at the intersection with State Street. In the car with him was his 10-year-old boy and another juvenile.

The driver died at the scene. The children were sent to area hospitals, but the 10-year-old did not survive. An update on the surviving child was unavailable.

A GoFundMe post for the family reported that Fernandez was also the father of a 5-year-old son. It's unclear whether he was the second passenger.

"Arthur was an extraordinary father," according to the post. "Everything he did, every single day, was for his children. He poured his heart and soul into being the best dad possible, leaving behind a beautiful five-year-old son who will now grow up without his father and big brother.

"The sudden nature of this tragedy has left our family in a state of shock and grief," the post continued. "We are struggling to process this immense loss, and we are now faced with the unexpected burden of funeral and burial expenses."

As of early Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $9,000.

Three county firefighters aboard the engine were also injured, but not critically, officials said. They were taken to Wildomar's Inland Valley Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment. They were later released by medical personnel.

Personnel from the Hemet fire and police departments, as well as California Highway Patrol officers and additional county fire crews, were sent to the crash site. The intersection was completely shut down Friday afternoon.

Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.

Anyone with additional information was encouraged to contact the CHP San Gorgonio Pass-area office at 951-846-5300. The CHP is handling the crash investigation.

—City News Service contributed to this report.