Following a tragic accident that occurred last year, the individual responsible has been apprehended and charged with multiple offenses, including murder. On June 12, 2024, a juvenile victim of the collision died from injuries, leading to additional charges for Matthew Thomas Jackson, who was involved in the fatal DUI in Temecula. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office subsequently filed charges against Jackson, the 37-year-old Temecula resident, as reported by the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
The incident dates back to May 26, 2024, when deputies responded to a reported traffic accident at the intersection of Butterfield Stage Road and Channel Street. The preliminary investigation uncovered that Jackson's vehicle ran a red signal causing the crash, and he fled the scene on foot. A warrant for his arrest was issued with a one million dollar bail following the additional charges brought forth by the DA's Office due to the juvenile's death. According to Sergeant Chris Mattson of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, Southwest Station Traffic Team and Southwest Station Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team members located and apprehended Jackson on Friday, without incident.
Since the accident, Jackson has been facing serious legal ramifications for his actions. On December 30, 2024, he was charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs causing injury, and reckless driving causing injury. After his arrest in Los Angeles, he was transported to the Cois Byrd Detention Center. The impact of the collision was not just legal but human—an unquantifiable cost borne by the families affected and an irreversible loss of life.
Investigators are still seeking information from the public, encouraging anyone with knowledge about the incident to reach out to Corporal Downs at the Southwest Station or the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
