Murrieta Man Accused in Traumatic Vail Lake Hit-And-Run

A Menifee woman was hospitalized with traumatic injuries Saturday when she fell out of the back of a moving pick-up truck at Vail Lake Resort, and the driver, a Murrieta man, was jailed on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in serious or permanent injury.

Brian Christopher Tickel, 44, was booked into Southwest Detention Center near Murrieta early Sunday morning following the accident that was reported at 9:15 p.m. Saturday at 38000 Highway 79 South, according to sheriff’s jail records and the California Highway Patrol.

The injured woman, Kimberly Montiel, 42, of Menifee, was reportedly among two passengers riding on the tailgate of a 2010 Chevy Silverado allegedly being driven by Tickel at the Vail Lake Campground, according to a report written by the responding CHP investigator.

Tickel was reportedly driving in a northwesterly direction through the campground east of Temecula, with two people riding on the tailgate.

As Tickel allegedly took a turn at about 10-15 mph, the rear end of the Silverado slid to the right and forced Montiel to be thrown from the truck, the CHP investigator wrote.

Montiel, a counselor at Paloma Valley High School, suffered major blunt force trauma to her head, and was transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar.

Tickel allegedly ran from the scene prior to CHP’s arrival at Vail Lake.

But when he showed up at the hospital at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, CHP was notified and he was arrested without incident.

CHP’s preliminary investigation revealed alcohol was possibly a factor in the incident; however, that had not been fully determined as of Tuesday.

Tickel was released from jail Sunday in lieu of $25,000 bail.

He is tentatively due in court July 19.

Once CHP submits its findings to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors will decide whether to file criminal charges.