Man dead following Riverside hit and run pursuit
RIVERSIDE – A man was killed in a fatal crash after he struck several vehicles and fled from police Saturday, July 16. The deadly pursuit ended when the man smashed into a center divider near the 91 and 60/215 freeway interchange, according to Riverside Police Lieutenant Dan Hoxmeier.
The man has not been identified, pending the Coroner’s investigation and notification of his family. His vehicle was described as a dark gray Ford F150 truck.
The Riverside Police Department received a 911 call at about 1:53 p.m. from a victim reporting a hit and run traffic collision. The first hit and run occurred in the area of Tyler Street and Wells Avenue.
The victim told Riverside Police dispatchers the suspect continued driving and fled the accident scene and they were following the man and providing dispatchers with updates. As the suspect was fleeing from the first hit and run he was involved in a second hit and run near Magnolia Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard.
After the second collision the suspect continued driving. The man then entered the eastbound 91 freeway from Van Buren Boulevard while the original hit and run victim continued following him.
A Riverside Police K9 officer quickly located the suspect’s vehicle on the 91 freeway. As the man passed Arlington Avenue, the K9 officer “activated his emergency lights and siren to stop the suspect but he failed to yield and a pursuit ensued,” Hoxmeier wrote in a press release about the fatal incident.
The pursuing officer advised dispatchers the fleeing driver was swerving in and out of traffic and appeared to be driving while intoxicated, according to Hoxmeier.
As the truck neared the 91 and 60/215 freeway interchange, the man hit a third vehicle. The fleeing suspect then lost control of his truck and struck the center divider. After hitting the center divider, the truck hit a fourth vehicle and then smashed into the center divider again, finally coming to a stop.
When the officer approached the suspect’s vehicle he found the driver – who had not been wearing a seatbelt – had been partially ejected and had sustained major traumatic injuries. The officer immediately requested medical aid for the mortally injured man.
Riverside Fire Department and AMR personnel responded to the location. However, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by firefighters.
The California Highway Patrol’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team responded to the location to conduct an investigation into the fatal accident.
“At this time, the collisions caused by the suspect driver appear to be alcohol related,” according to Hoxmeier. “There were no reports of serious injuries from the occupants of any of the four hit and run victim vehicles.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the fatal incident is encouraged to contact the CHP Riverside Station at (951) 637-8000.
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