Tragedy on the Road: Remembering Ulises Dominguez

The Apple Valley community is mourning the devastating loss of 44-year-old Ulises Dominguez, whose life was tragically cut short in a violent two-vehicle collision late Saturday night. The fatal crash occurred at approximately 11:36 p.m. on September 20, 2025, near the intersection of Kiowa Road and Kiowa Place. What began as an ordinary night ended in unimaginable tragedy when Ulises’s vehicle was struck, causing catastrophic injuries that ultimately claimed his life.

According to reports, Ulises was behind the wheel of his white Hummer H2, driving through Apple Valley when a white Nissan Altima driven by 23-year-old Exon Herrera Hernandez slammed into the rear of his vehicle. The violent impact forced Ulises’s car off the roadway, overturning it in a devastating crash. In a matter of moments, the life of a beloved man, father, and friend was taken, leaving his loved ones and community shattered.

 The Harsh Reality of Drunk Driving

Investigators later confirmed what many feared: Hernandez was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. A reckless decision to drive while impaired destroyed not only the life of Ulises but also altered countless others forever. With alcohol in his system, Hernandez’s actions turned a quiet Apple Valley night into one filled with flashing lights, sirens, and heartbreak.

Inside the Hummer, Ulises was not alone. His passenger, 22-year-old Salvador Rubio Tamayo of Victorville, suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital. While Salvador remains in stable condition, he now carries the trauma of surviving a crash that took his friend’s life. Authorities worked tirelessly at the scene, shutting down Kiowa Road for more than seven hours to conduct investigations and piece together the moments leading up to the tragedy.