3 Children Pulled From Burning Crash: Temecula Honors Rescuers

TEMECULA, CA — The word "hero" is often used — and sometimes overly so. But in the case of 15 people who were recognized Tuesday night in Temecula, the word is hardly enough to describe how they rescued three young children from a fiery crash.

It was Saturday, Jan. 11, around 9:07 a.m. A Riverside County sheriff's deputy on patrol along De Portola Road saw the white Ford F150. The vehicle was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed when it struck the center median and rolled.

The driver, later identified as San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Creed, 32, of Temecula, was ejected during the crash and died at the scene. Trapped inside the burning wreckage were three young children.

"I was not there," Captain Zach Hall of the Temecula Sheriff's Station told the audience at Tuesday night's city council meeting, but he knew the crash details and wanted to provide context.

As "fuel was dripping" into the burning truck's cab, first responders and passersby who stopped to help spotted the young kids inside the vehicle, Hall explained. Those on scene "were able to break open the windows, crawl inside and cut these children out" of the fiery wreckage "at severe risk and peril to their own lives," he said.

The three youngsters were taken to the hospital, suffering injuries that ranged from minor to moderate, Riverside County Fire Department officials said at the time.

Had the children not been pulled from the truck, they would have died in the fire.

"The children's lives were saved because of everyone here," Hall said.

According to a GoFundMe page established for Creed's family, the deputy had three children, Charlotte, 4, William, 3, and Robert, 9 months. It's never been confirmed by Patch whether they were the trio with their dad that fateful day.

Creed's wife, Kelsey, publicly thanked the community on the GoFundMe page, and she shared this heartfelt message:

"Matthew was my best friend, my husband, and one hell of a father to our three, amazing children. How do we continue this life without him? I know it’s possible, but it will be the most difficult journey of our lives. Our hearts hurt and the pain is something that I’ve never felt. We will miss him more than words can ever say, but not one day will go by that we don’t talk about him, remember him, and honor him."

Creed served with the SDCSD for seven years.

During Tuesday night's meeting, Temecula Mayor Pro Tem Maryann Edwards handed out certificates of recognition to the 15 first responders and citizens. She praised their bravery and told everyone in attendance, "we're so proud. It comes from the heart ... ."

The names of those honored follow:

Citizens

Juan M. Sanchez

Richard Strehl

Garry and Stephanie Grimwade

Michael Hughes

Michael Mattegit and Carlas Alvarez

Leslie Owens

Koy Stewart

Law Enforcement Officers

Marc Mueller

Emanuel Cooper

Daniel Hoctor

Jeffrey Maynard

Mark Alanis

Robert Rosas