Traffic was snarled and the backup could be seen as far east as Loma Linda Medical Center and as far west as the 215 on ramp at Washington. Early morning commuters were delayed and rerouted onto neighboring side streets Wednesday, April 4th 2018. The parents of CJUSD students in the local areas received an “All-Call,” or pre-recorded, informational phone call, advising them of Colton Police Department working a traffic collision in the area of East Washington St and Cooley Drive. Parents were advised to use alternate routes and avoid the area as well as stating the schools expected delays.
Colton Police Department’s Sergeant T. Heusterberg released the following statement:
On 4/4/18 at approximately 5:21 A.M. officers from the Colton City Police Department and Colton Fire Department responded to the intersection of East Washington ST and Cooley Drive, in the City of Colton, in reference to a single vehicle traffic collision. Upon arrival, officers found that a vehicle had collided with a full grown palm tree.The driver and sole occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene. Colton Police Department MAIT (Major Accident Investigation Team) responded and is conducting the investigation. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time. The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office.
Kyle Schmidt, a 34-year-old male was later identified as the driver in the fatal accident. He was a resident of Grand Terrace and no other information about him has come to light at the time of publication. A memorial was erected at the scene of the accident several days later after the debris had been cleared from the site. The memorial consisted of flowers, candles and a cross with the message "No More Suffering, No More Pain. In Heaven I am. Investigators have not released any further details as to the cause of the accident. Colton Police Department is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
Anyone who saw the collision or the events preceding the collision is encouraged to contact Detective Castillo at 909-370-5021 or 909-370-5000.