LAKE ELSINORE: Man arrested, charged with hit and run after smashing into motorcyclist

LAKE ELSINORE — A motorcyclist was hospitalized with major, traumatic injuries after he was involved in a collision with another vehicle that some witnesses say made an illegal left turn in front of the rider, Wednesday, Sept. 13. After the crash, the driver who reportedly caused the accident fled the scene. He was later located and arrested.

During an investigation, deputies located and identified the alleged hit and run driver as Jorge Flores-Garcia, 40, of Lake Elsinore. He was later booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of hit and run resulting in serious bodily injury.

An online jail records search revealed Flores-Garcia was released from custody several hours after his arrest, after posting $25,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Nov. 9.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the area of Collier and Central Avenues about 6:05 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Nathan Kaas explained in a written press release and subsequent update.

When officials arrived, they found a wrecked motorcycle and a rider down in the roadway. AMR medics transported the injured rider to an area hospital. His injuries were later described as major, but non-life threatening.

Based on the severity of the rider’s injuries, members of Lake Elsinore Police Department’s Traffic Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their investigation, deputies called for the full, temporary closure of Collier Avenue between Central Avenue and Hunco Way to ensure the safety of officials investigating the crash. Collier Avenue was partially reopened at about 8:30 p.m. The entire roadway was reopened at 11:30 p.m.

About three hours after the accident happened, deputies located the second vehicle and driver that were allegedly involved in the crash. Officials described the vehicle as a black Audi and said officials located it and the alleged driver in the area of Main Street and Sumner Avenue. 

According to Kaas, it is not yet known if drugs and/or alcohol intoxication were contributing factors in the hit and run collision.

The motorcycle rider remains hospitalized with injuries that do not appear to be life threatening, said Kaas.

Anyone with further information related to this case or who witnessed this collision is encouraged to contact Deputy Nicole Roberge of the Lake Elsinore Police Department Traffic Team at (951) 245-3300, or after hours at (951) 776-1099. Callers can refer to incident file number L172560116 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.