RIVERSIDE: Man intentionally runs over, kills 60-year-old transient, officials allege

RIVERSIDE – A man was arrested after he allegedly ran over and killed a 60-year-old pedestrian Friday, Feb. 3. According to officials the driver intentionally struck the victim. The man has also been accused of ramming his car into an occupied vehicle while trying to flee from the scene.

The fatal incident happened in a Carl’s Jr. parking lot driveway off Jackson Street near Van Buren Boulevard in Riverside. The restaurant is located in the 6000 block of Van Buren Boulevard.

Officials identified the alleged suspect as Lawrence Earl Aaseng, 55, of Riverside.

After an investigation, officers arrested Aaseng for murder. He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Riverside Police and Fire personnel responded to the area about 10:10 a.m., after several people called 911 to report the incident. Callers told City of Riverside emergency dispatchers the incident appeared to be a traffic collision involving a vehicle and pedestrian.

When they arrived, Riverside firefighter/paramedics immediately began treating the victim, who was described as “an elderly male transient.”

The victim sustained major traumatic injuries when he was struck by a car driven by Aaseng.

AMR medics transported the victim, who has only been identified as a 60-year-old Riverside resident, to Parkview Community Hospital for further treatment. The victim succumbed to his injures about forty minutes later and he was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 10:49 a.m.

The victim’s identity has not been released, pending notification of his family.

While firefighters treated the victim, officers located Aaseng, who had been driving a white Toyota Corolla at the time of the collision.

During their preliminary investigation officers spoke with Aaseng about the collision. Based on Aaseng’s statements, officers determined the collision may have been an intentional act.

Based on the circumstances, detectives from the department’s Robbery-Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. They were assisted by the department’s Major Accident Investigation Team and the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.

During their investigation, officials learned Aaseng drove his vehicle south through the Carl’s Jr. parking lot and “intentionally struck the victim who was standing near a tree at the Jackson Street side driveway,” according to a Riverside police official.

After Aaseng struck the victim, he “then reversed his vehicle and intentionally collided into an older green Nissan sedan as he attempted to flee.” The female driver of the Nissan had stopped when she witnessed the collision. She was not injured in the collision.

Aaseng did not know the victim, according to officials, who said, “It does not appear the suspect knew or had any relationship with the deceased victim.”

Based on Aesengs statements and further investigation, officers arrested him for murder. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

The sedan could remained at the location several hours after the incident and a large section of the driveway and parking lot were cordoned off with crime-scene tape, as authorities continued their investigation into the incident.

Forensic investigators from the department’s Evidence Unit were seen documenting and photographing Aaseng’s vehicle, including visible front-end damage from the collision with the victim. The vehicle was later towed and stored as evidence.

An online jail records search revealed Aaseng is being held in lieu of $1 million dollars bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or who witnessed the fatal collision should contact Detective Mike Medici at (951) 353-7104 or Detective James Brandt at (951) 353-7137. Callers can refer to incident file number P17020842 and can remain anonymous.

 

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.