HEMET: Menifee man arrested in fatal hit and run that killed new father

HEMET — A man who fled the scene after fatally hitting a 20-year-old skateboarder on Florida Avenue, late Wednesday night, Mar. 28, has been arrested, according to Hemet police officials who announced the man’s arrest earlier today.

After hitting the victim, who was later identified as Juan “Johnny” Cuevas Jr., of Hemet, the driver never slowed down and continued eastbound on Florida Avenue,  leaving the victim to die in the roadway.

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According to his family and official accounts, Cuevas was riding his skateboard home from visiting his newborn son when he was fatally hit just east of Girard Street.

After his death, the victim’s broken skateboard and various other personal items remained in the roadway. Broken glass from one of Durbin’s shattered headlights and turn signals lay on the road nearby. All were later collected as evidence.

More than 50 family members and friends came together for a candlelight vigil the evening after the young dad’s death, meeting on the corner in front of Hemet’s Provident Bank building, near where the new father was left for dead.

A makeshift memorial with large balloons, candles, messages and photos of Cuevas served as the gathering point for vigil attendees, who said prayers and shared anecdotes and happy memories about the deceased man.

Although at least one witness was able to accurately describe the suspects vehicle to officers, they had little else to go on and quickly reached out to the community for help identifying and locating the person who fled after fatally hitting the victim.

According to a press release issued by the department four days after the deadly collision, on Easter Sunday, Apr. 1, 33-year-old, David Andrew Durbin, of Menifee, contacted Hemet PD and offered to turn himself in to authorities, Hemet Police Sergeant Dan Reinbolt explained.

Investigators who interviewed Durbin about the deadly hit and run learned the man’s roommates had seen the damage to his silver Pontiac Grand Am as well as news articles and Hemet PD’s press release about the fatal collision. Durbin eventually decided to turn himself at his roommate’ urging.

Officials located Durbin’s damaged Pontiac and seized it as evidence in the hit and run.

Based on Durbin’s admission, investigators arrested the man and he was later booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of hit and run resulting in death. He remains in custody, held on $75,000 bail.

After Cuevas’ death, family members who established a GoFundMe account to help offset burial expenses explained, “Johnny is a son, father, grandson, nephew and cousin who was taken too soon.”

As of Monday evening, the GoFundMe had raised more than $2,600 toward the fundraiser’s goal of $5,000.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and 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.