UPDATED: PERRIS: Man, 68, killed by hit and run driver Christmas morning identified

UPDATED: Wednesday, Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m.

PERRIS — Officials are investigating a fatal, vehicle versus pedestrian, hit and run traffic collision that took the life of a 68-year-old, Moreno Valley resident, early Christmas morning, Monday, Dec. 25.

The man was found unconscious along the side of the road in front of Camper Resorts of America, on the 300 block of Ramona Expressway, in Perris. The resort is west of Redlands Avenue and east of N. Perris Boulevard, in Perris.

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, California Highway Patrol officers, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the area of the area of Ramona Expressway and Redlands Boulevard at 2:28 a.m., after receiving reports of a man seen lying on the side of the roadway.

Officials arrived at the scene within minutes and found an unconscious man on the shoulder of Ramona Expressway, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Lamb explained in a written press release.

The victim had sustained major, traumatic injuries and was rushed by ground ambulance to a nearby trauma center where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified the victim as Donald Dotson. According to a coroner’s release, Dotson died at Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley, nearly four hours after his discovery along the side of the road. He was pronounced deceased at 6:10 a.m. Coroner’s officials did not release the time Dotson was struck and received his fatal injuries, which is still under investigation.

Based on the circumstances, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Police Station’s Traffic Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their investigation, deputies called for the temporary closure of westbound lanes of Ramona Expressway at Redlands Boulevard. The roadway was re-opened several hours later.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the fatal collision is urged to immediately contact Deputy Cail of the Perris Station Traffic Team at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PE173590025 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

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.