Bicyclist ID’d, man arrested, after fatal JV hit and run

JURUPA VALLEY — A bicyclist was run down and killed by a hit and run driver in Jurupa Valley who was later identified, arrested, and charged in the man’s death. The deadly collision happened late Saturday evening, April 20, on Van Buren Blvd. just north of Limonite Ave. The alleged suspect was arrested about three miles from the scene of the hit and run the next morning, Sunday, April 21.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Rigoberto Guzman, 30, of Riverside, as the bicyclist killed in the hit and run collision. A coroner’s report listed Guzman’s time of death as 11:08 p.m.

Deputies assigned to Jurupa Valley Police Department were dispatched to the scene of the accident at 11:07 p.m., after receiving reports of a man down in the roadway with “obvious signs of trauma,” Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Raemie Wood later reported.

Deputies arrived at the scene within one minute of the dispatched call and found Guzman’s lifeless body in the roadway. Upon arrival, deputies “observed injuries to the deceased consistent with being struck by a vehicle,” Raemie explained. Deputies determined Guzman had already succumbed to his traumatic injuries and pronounced him deceased at the scene.

Based on the circumstances, members of Jurupa Valley PD’s Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

During their preliminary on-scene investigation, Traffic Team deputies determined Guzman had been riding a bicycle northbound Van Buren Blvd., just north of the Limonite on ramp, when a vehicle struck him.

The driver did not stop or attempt to render aid to the mortally injured bicyclist and fled the scene.

As their investigation continued, Traffic Team deputies received a follow-up call related to the fatal hit and run traffic collision. During that phone call deputies obtained information that identified Andrew Scott Walters, 26, of Jurupa Valley as the possible driver of the vehicle that struck and killed Guzman. Officials did not specify who made the call identifying Walters.

Based on their investigation and leads developed, the following morning deputies responded to the 9000 block of 56th Street, in Jurupa Valley, west of Van Buren Blvd., where they contacted Walters.

Walters was ultimately arrested and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of hit and run resulting in death, a felony. Jail records indicate Walters was released within hours of his arrest after posting $75,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall Of Justice, June 21.

Although Jurupa Valley PD’s investigation is ongoing, Raemie reported, “Alcohol and/or drug impairment does not appear to be a factor in this collision at this time.”

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Ditfurth at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600. Callers can refer to incident file number JV191100162 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.