Coachella bicyclist, 34, killed by drunk driver
COACHELLA — A bicyclist was fatally struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding in Coachella early Saturday morning, April 27. The alleged drunk driver was later arrested at the scene, but was released within hours of his arrest after posting 50,000 bail.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
UPDATE: Homeland motorcyclist, 42, killed yesterday, ID’d
Coachella deputies responded to the collision about 2:15 a.m., after receiving a report of a vehicle that struck a bicyclist on Grapefruit Blvd. and Mitchell Dr., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Adan Yamaguchi later reported.
When officials arrived they found a bicyclist down in the roadway suffering from major traumatic injuries. The victim succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene, according to Yamauchi.
Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified Raul Gulliver, 34, as the bicyclist killed in the DUI-collision. A coroner’s release indicated Gulliver was pronounced deceased at 2:25 a.m.
During their subsequent investigation, deputies determined Hector Manuel Polanco Garnica, 34, of Coachella, had been traveling southbound on Grapefruit Blvd. in a black pickup truck “when he collided head on with a bicyclist traveling northbound,” Yamaguchi explained.
Based on their investigation, Polanco Garnica was arrested for driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury and booked into Indio Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Larsen Justice Center, June 24.
Anyone with any information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, at (760) 863-8990, or they can call anonymous tips at (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number Y191170003 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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.