THERMAL: Hit and run victim left in roadway, dies after being hit by second car

THERMAL – A man who was struck by a hit and run driver and left to die in the roadway was run over by a second vehicle Tuesday, Dec. 20. The hit and run and second accident happened on Hwy 86 south of Avenue 52. The man died from his injuries.

Coroner’s officials later identified the victim as Juan Hernandez, 36, of Indio. Although it was not immediately known when Hernandez was hit by the first vehicle, his time of death was listed as 11:41 p.m.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Coachella Police station were dispatched to the intersection at 11:25 p.m., after a motorist called 911 to report a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant John Clark.

Deputies arrived within minutes and located an adult male pedestrian down in the roadway. The man, who was later identified as Hernandez, had suffered major traumatic injuries from being struck by the two vehicles.

By the time deputies arrived, Hernandez had already succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle that struck Hernandez remained at the scene of the accident and was cooperating with the investigation.

Based on the circumstances, traffic investigators responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

Their preliminary investigation revealed Hernandez was struck by an unknown vehicle and left to die in the roadway. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene without stopping to provide aid to Hernandez or to call 911 to report the accident.

Hernandez was laying in the roadway when he was struck by the second vehicle. It was not immediately known if he was still alive when the second vehicle struck him.

Alcohol and/or drug intoxication were not considered to be factors with the second driver of this fatal collision, Clark said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about this collision is urged to contact Officer Acevedo at the Coachella Police Department at (760) 863-8990, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number Y163550054 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.