UPDATED: SAN JACINTO: Hemet woman, 57, left to die after hit and run collision ID’d

SAN JACINTO — Officials have identified a woman killed by a hit and run driver and California Highway Patrol officers are asking for the public’s help identifying and locating the driver who ran the woman down before fleeing the scene.

The fatal hit and run happened late Saturday evening, Sept. 30 or early Sunday morning, Oct. 1, in the area of Ramona Expressway about 600 feet east of Allesandro Avenue in San Jacinto.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified Vivian Thomas, 57, of Hemet as the victim killed when she was struck by an unknown subject while she was riding a bicycle eastbound on Ramona Expressway. According to coroner officials, she was pronounced dead about 6:26 a.m., after officials arrived and determined she had already succumbed to her injuries.

Thomas “had been deceased for approximately six hours,” CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer explained in a written press release after the incident

CHP officers responded to reports of a bicyclist down about 6:19 a.m., after a person called 911 to report finding the woman’s body.

“When officers arrived, they found (the victim) on the shoulder of Ramona Expressway with a bicycle lying next to her,” said Meyer. Officials determined the victim had already succumbed to her injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

During their investigation, CHP officers located evidence at the scene that indicated Thomas had been struck from behind, possibly by a Chevrolet or GMC truck or SUV, according to Meyer.

Meyer did not specify what evidence officers located, leading them to determine the type of vehicle believed to have been involved in the deadly incident.

After striking the bicyclist, “the vehicle that was involved in the collision failed to stop at the scene and has not contacted law enforcement,” Meyer explained saying, “CHP believes the collision between the vehicle and bicyclist occurred within the right lane of eastbound Ramona Expressway, east of Allesandro Avenue sometime during the overnight hours.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information regarding the identity of the vehicle, driver or passenger(s) involved in the collision is encouraged to immediately contact CHP’s San Gorgoino Pass office at (951) 769-2000.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, 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 as well as 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.