TEMECULA, Calif. – In the morning hours of Tuesday, June 4, 2019, thousands of motorists headed to the place of work just like every other weekday morning.
Javier Caldera, 25, of Auburn at the Murrieta Superior Court.
At the same time, Auburn, Washington resident Javier Caldera, 25, was also on the freeway driving a Chevy Silverado. Caldera had numerous run-ins with the law in both California and Washington State. Some of the arrests and/or convictions were for driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine.
The most recent, only months prior to the deadly, life-changing June 4th Collision was a police pursuit in Washington in late-November.
Janet Geneo
Janet and her daughter, Ally.
Janet Geneo, 44, of Murrieta, was driving her Nissan Altima heading to her job as an accountant. Janet was raising her teen daughter along with her husband, Eddy. The loss did not just hit her immediate family hard, it also is devastating to her mother, her twin sister Yvette, and her other siblings.
Janet and her mother.
She never got to say goodbye,” said family member, Abigail Valencia. “Her mother was stolen by a drunk driver who walked away with the gift of his own life.”
In addition to lives lost, others will be impacted, some for weeks, months, years, and for some, possibly forever. The collision left Janet deceased, two with minor to moderate injuries, and two with major injuries.
Mike Rivera Mike Rivera was driving to work in his Chevy s10, being hit at some point likely immediately after Janet Geneo. The impact sent his truck careening off of the freeway nearly clearing a fence, and flying into a concrete parking structure. Lucky to be alive, Rivera has a long road full of surgeries, physical therapy, and recovery before he is able to return to work.
As a sole provider for his family, “His car was totaled and he ended up with his leg broken in 5 places, 4 broken ribs, 5 broken vertebrae, a fractured cheekbone and jaw, stitches, staples, bumps, and bruises,” said his wife, Amber Rivera. He has so far had 1 surgery on his leg to insert multiple pins. He will have another surgery on his leg in the next 12-18 days to have the pins removed and have metal plates inserted that will stay there the rest of his life.”
Amber Rivera said that the first go fund me account met the $15000 goal, but they have since started another for anyone else who would like to donate.
GySgt Sidney Graves
The first vehicle, a white Chevy Tahoe, was struck while being driven by a United States Marine, GySgt Sidney Graves. He stated that he continues to experience some dizziness and balance issues. He told a 24/7 Headline News reporter that he is, “Sore, but nothing compared to others.”
He said that he took his wife’s vehicle that day, the family vehicle. He was on his way to work at Camp Pendleton when he was struck by the Chevy Silverado traveling in excess of 100 mph. He feels that if he had taken his Jeep, he may not have made it out of the collision alive.
Grateful for his life, he is left with emotional distress as well as new transportation difficulties. “My wife and I were under the impression we had gap insurance only to find out we don’t,” explained GySgt. Graves. “Unfortunately, that was our family vehicle for kids.” He also explained that his insurance company is unable, at this time to gain access to the vehicle to deem it totaled. “This is because it’s considered evidence,” he said.
His family is now left to share his 2-door Jeep that he thinks he may have to sell to get a replacement family vehicle. GySgt. Graves is originally from Mississippi and has been a Marine for nearly 15 years. He has been in California for around 6 months and will also be graduating from Arizona State University in December 2019. He has been married for fourteen years. He has three daughters ages 13, 4, and 10-months-old. He has started a Go Fund Me account to assist his family during this unexpected difficulty.
Those who witnessed the collision, aftermath, and even some after seeing the news coverage, they will never be the same. Meanwhile, Caldera remains behind bars and is facing charges of second-degree murder and driving under the influence causing injury.
Mike Rivera was driving to work in his Chevy s10, being hit at some point likely immediately after Janet Geneo. The impact sent his truck careening off of the freeway nearly clearing a fence, and flying into a concrete parking structure. Lucky to be alive, Rivera has a long road full of surgeries, physical therapy, and recovery before he is able to return to work. 
