Tag Archive for Riverside County

Bike-riding Riverside man killed in July hit-and-run road rage attack, driver arrested for murder

August 21, 2021 / / Comments Off on Bike-riding Riverside man killed in July hit-and-run road rage attack, driver arrested for murder

Once again, a driver has used his vehicle as a weapon.

And once again, someone on a bicycle paid the price.

This time, it’s murder.

Multiple sources are reporting that 46-year old Benedicto Solanga was riding his bike on on Market Street near the 60 Freeway around 12:40 pm on July 29, when he had a “brief interaction” with a driver later identified as 31-year old Sergio Reynaldo Gutierrez of Riverside.

Which sound like a bad euphemism for a road rage dispute.

Gutierrez drove off, then made a sudden U-turn and allegedly aimed his massive pickup at Solanga’s bicycle before slamming into him.

Solanga was rushed to the hospital in grave condition, where he died a few days later.

Police found Gutierrez’s Ford F-250 later that night on the 3200 block of Iowa Ave in Riverside, leading to his arrest on Tuesday, nearly three weeks after the crash. He remains jailed on $1 million bail.

Let’s hope he gets used to it.

This is at least the 44th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the seventh that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Benedicto Solanga and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,

Man killed riding motorized bicycle in Jurupa Valley collision Sunday morning

August 16, 2021 / / One comment

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that a man was killed in a collision with a driver while riding some sort of motorized bicycle in Jurupa Valley Sunday morning.

Police investigators believe 34-year old Perris resident Christopher Cortes Duarte was traveling west on Limonite Ave at Etiwanda Ave when he allegedly made an abrupt U-turn around 10:21 am, and was struck by pickup driver traveling in the same direction.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. .

The driver remained and cooperated with investigators. There’s no word yet on whether drugs or alcohol may have played a role.

There was also no word on what the report means by motorized bicycle, which could refer to anything from an ebike to an illegal gas-powered bicycle.

As always, much depends on whether there were any independent witnesses who saw the victim turn in front of the truck, or if they are relying on the driver’s side of the story, since the victim can’t give his side.

Anyone with information is urged to call Deputy Petersen at the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at 951/955-2600 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 951/776-1099.

This is at least the 42nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the sixth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Christopher Cortes Duarte and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Unidentified man killed riding bike in Indio collision Sunday morning; second fatal Indio bike crash in two months

March 28, 2021 / / Comments Off on Update: Unidentified man killed riding bike in Indio collision Sunday morning; second fatal Indio bike crash in two months

Then there were three.

A bad weekend for Southern California bike riders got worse, when an unidentified man was killed riding a bike in Indio Sunday morning.

According to the Desert Sun, the victim was struck around 11:45 am on Avenue 48 east of Jefferson Street.

He apparently died at the scene.

The driver, identified only as man, remained after the crash and cooperated with investigators.

Unfortunately, no other information is available at this time; even the police spokesman had to speculate that the crash occurred in the middle of the road, because police shut down in both directions.

And yes, this serves as yet another reminder to always carry ID with you when you ride.

This is at least the 16th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fifth that I’m aware of in Riverside County; he’s also the second person killed riding a bike in Indio in just the last two months.

His death comes after two other people were killed riding bicycles in SoCal crashes this weekend, in Irwindale on Saturday and Escondido Friday night.

Update: The victim has been identified as 73-year old Indio resident William Mohan. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for William Mohan and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: 51-year old Anthony Duran killed walking bike in Indio crash; alleged driver held on felony hit-and-run charge

February 12, 2021 / / One comment

A man was killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking his bike in Indio last week.

But because the news stories identified him as a pedestrian, it didn’t cross my radar until the driver was arrested on Wednesday.

The victim, identified as 51-year old Indio resident Anthony Duran, was found lying badly injured in the street at Monroe Street and Avenue 42 around 4:50 am on Thursday, February 4th.

Police determined Duran was walking his bike across the intersection when he run down by a pickup driver, who fled without stopping.

Duran died at the scene. There’s no word on just how long he had to lay there, alone and bleeding, before someone saw him.

Police arrested 28-year old Mark Bravo of Indio on Wednesday; he’s being held on $75,000 bond on a single count of felony hit-and-run.

If there was any justice, he’d face a second degree murder charge for allegedly leaving his victim there to die; there’s no way of knowing if Duran could have survived if he’d gotten help sooner.

This is at least the ninth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the fourth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

Update: Police arrested 28-year old Indio resident Mark Christian Bravo a week after the hit-and-run that killed Anthony Duran; he was release on $75,000 bond. 

At the time of the crash, Bravo was already out on $85,000 bail for an unrelated case of assault with a deadly weapon. 

Maybe he shouldn’t be allowed out on the streets for any amount.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Anthony Duran and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Man riding bicycle killed in double Menifee crash, as 2nd driver leaves scene; 3rd fatal Riverside County bike crash this year

January 18, 2021 / / Comments Off on Man riding bicycle killed in double Menifee crash, as 2nd driver leaves scene; 3rd fatal Riverside County bike crash this year

For the third time in just three days, a bike rider was killed in Southern California.

And for the third time, a driver left the scene — although police were quick to excuse it.

According to the Press-Enterprise, 43-year old Lake Elsinore resident Alex Herrera was crossing Highway 74 just west of Briggs Road in Menifee around 10:45 Saturday night, when he was struck by a westbound driver, flung onto the other side of the roadway, and run over by another driver headed east.

Herrera died at the scene before police could arrive.

The first driver stopped and waited for police, though he was unsure who or what he struck on the dark roadway.

The second driver kept going without stopping, but lost his license plate in the crash. Police were able to track him down and were quick to absolve him of responsibility, suggesting he may not have known he hit anyone.

Because evidently, it’s perfectly normal to keep driving after feeling a large, unexpected bump without stopping to see what the hell it was.

Like maybe another person, for instance.

Police said there was no sign drug or alcohol intoxication played a role in the crash, and neither driver was ticketed or arrested at the scene.

There’s no word on why Herrera was crossing the highway west of the intersection with Briggs, with no street lights or businesses to light the roadway.

There’s also no indication if he had lights on his bike that would have made him visible in the darkness.

This is at least the sixth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the third that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

Drivers have left the scene in all but two of those deaths, including all three in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Alex Herrera and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Bicyclist killed in Perris hit-and-run Thursday night; driver arrested hours later

January 16, 2021 / / One comment

Just over two weeks into the new year, a second bike rider has been killed in Riverside County, both the victims of hit-and-run drivers.

But at least this time, the killer was caught a few hours later.

According to My News LA, the victim was riding through the intersection of Goetz Road and Mapes Road in Perris around 8:30 pm Thursday when he was struck by a car driven by 28-year old Perris resident Nathan Craig Rogers.

The victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, died at the scene.

Rogers fled the scene, but Patch reports he was taken into custody around 11 pm Thursday.

At last report, he was being held on $75,000 bond on suspicion of felony fatal hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.

It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision.

Sadly, California’s lenient hit-and-run laws mean Rogers is looking at just four years behind bars, with another year in county jail for the misdemeanor manslaughter charge.

And that’s only if the judge rules the sentences should run consecutively, rather than concurrently.

Anyone with information is urged to call Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Kiebach at 951/776-1099, or the Perris Station at 951-210-1000.

This is at least the 4th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 2nd that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

Half of those SoCal bicycling deaths have ben the result of hit-and-run drivers, both in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Bike rider killed in Riverside hit-and-run Thursday morning; first SoCal bike death of 2021

January 7, 2021 / / One comment

Sadly, it should surprise anyone that the first Southern California bike rider to lose his life this year was the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

According to MyNewsLA, the victim was riding south on Jackson Street at Colorado Ave in Riverside, in a dedicated bike lane, when he was struck by a driver around 6:30 am this morning.

The driver slowed down briefly, then took off without stopping.

The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was taken to Parkview Community Hospital, where he died a short time later.

KTLA-5 reports the initial investigation indicates he left the bike lane and entered the regular traffic lane just before he was run down.

However, a street view shows a broken line on the bike lane prior to the intersection, which could have given the impression he left the bike lane.

Unfortunately, there’s no description of the hit-and-run suspect or the vehicle at this time.

Anyone with information is urged to call Riverside Police Detective Anderson at 951/826-8723.

This is the first bicycling fatality I’m aware of in Southern California this year, and the first in Riverside County

That compares 65 bicycling deaths in Southern California last year, and ten in Riverside County.

Update: The victim has been identified as 66-year old Riverside resident Lin Tae Kim. 

The suspect vehicle is described as a 2002 – 2008 Mini Cooper, with the driver’s side window and mirror missing, as well as several pieces of side trim.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Lin Tae Kim and his loved ones. 

 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Bike rider killed in crash near Redlands; no details available

October 30, 2020 / / 2 comments

Another person has been killed riding a bicycle in Southern California.

And once again, almost no details are available.

According to My News LA, a bike rider was killed in a collision at 5:32 Thursday morning on San Timoteo Canyon Road at Redlands Boulevard in Redlands.

However, the location appears to put it in Riverside County, near the border with San Bernardino County south of Redlands.

A street view shows a heavily trafficked T-intersection, with two-lane roadways in each direction.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time; there’s no word on the identity of the victim or how the crash happened.

Let alone why.

This is at least the 53rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his or her loved ones. 

 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

82-year old bike rider dies following Temecula bike collision; investigators quickly blame the victim

October 6, 2020 / / One comment

Bullshit.

The Press-Enterprise is reporting that an 82-year old Murrieta man died late Sunday afternoon, a little over 32 hours after he was struck by a driver while riding in Temecula.

And Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies didn’t hesitate to blame the victim for his own death, when he’s not around to share his side of the story.

According to the paper, Kenrick Skinner was crossing Margarita Road at Paseo Brillante in Temecula around 7:20 Saturday morning when he was struck by an eastbound driver.

Skinner was taken to Wildomar’s Inland Valley Medical Center, where he died around 4 pm Sunday.

The driver remained at the scene and called 911.

A street view shows four lane roadway, with bike lanes and a left turn bay in each direction on Margarita, the intersection controlled only by a single stop sign on southbound Paseo Brillante.

It strains credibility to believe that an 82-year old man would somehow violate the right-of-way by riding out into oncoming traffic, as investigators suggest.

The paper doesn’t say which direction Skinner was traveling, but it’s easy to imagine that the broadly curving roadway may have appeared clear before he started crossing.

He may have struggled to get across the wide roadway before drivers caught up to him — especially if they were traveling at a high rate of speed, which seems likely given the early hour and the wide open roadway design.

Which means a better question isn’t why was he was in the roadway, but why did the driver fail to see a man on a bicycle directly in front of him?

If sheriff’s investigators can answer that, they’ll know why this tragic crash happened.

Anyone with information is urged to call Deputy Hoctor of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Southwest Station at 951/696-3000.

This is at least the 48th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware of in Riverside County.

It’s also the fourth SoCal bike death in the past week.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Kenrick Skinner and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Bike rider killed by hit-and-run driver in Perris crash; victim identified as 64-year old Perris man

July 19, 2020 / / One comment

Once again, a man has been killed riding a bicycle on the mean streets of Southern California.

And once again, a heartless coward has fled the scene.

According to the Press-Enterprise, 64-year old Perris resident Steve Baxter was found badly injured near the intersection of Goetz Road and Ellis Avenue in Perris around 11:16 Friday night.

He died at the scene five minutes later.

The Riverside County Coroner places the exact location as Goetz Road, 531 ft south of Cai Court.

Authorities are looking for an older white or light colored sedan with major front-end damage and a shattered front windshield, make and model unknown.

Authorities asked anyone with information is urged to call Riverside County  sheriff’s deputies at 951/210-1068.

This is at least the 33rd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of in Riverside County; it’s also the sixth in the county since mid-June, which suggests a serious problem.

Simply put, there is no excuse for failing to have the basic human decency to stop your damn car, and leaving another human being to die alone in the street. Ever.

Period.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Steve Baxter and all his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,
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