Moreno Valley street racing leads to pedestrian death – Two arrested
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 9, 1:54 p.m., With coroner’s release of victim’s name.
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — Authorities say a 45-year-old Moreno Valley man was fatally struck while crossing a Moreno Valley street yesterday evening, Saturday, March 6.
Two drivers were allegedly involved in an illegal and dangerous street race when the deadly accident occurred on Sunnymead Boulevard east of Heacock Street and initially fled the scene of the crash. They both later returned to the scene and were subsequently arrested on various charges including murder and street racing, according to officials.
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Deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station, along with other emergency personnel, were dispatched scene around 5:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a hit and run traffic collision involving a pedestrian, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant R. Grmusha later said of the deadly incident.
When officials arrived they located a male pedestrian who had suffered critical injuries. Despite life-saving efforts, the man succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
The victim has since been identified as Mario Hernandez, 45, of Moreno Valley.
Although two men involved in a street race initially fled the scene of last night’s fatal collision, they later returned to the location and were subsequently arrested. Both men remain in custody on $1 million bail. RSO booking photos
Deputies, who soon learned that two vehicles had been engaged in a street race when the pedestrian was fatally struck, determined the vehicles involved in the deadly incident had fled the area without stopping, rendering aid, or summoning assistance.
Based on the circumstances, members of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to the location and assumed the investigation. The collision investigation led to the hours-long closure of Sunnymead Boulevard, between Heacock Street and Back Way, but no significant delays in travel times were reported.
“Information obtained during the investigation revealed the victim was crossing Sunnymead Boulevard, east of the intersection with Heacock Street, when he was struck by a black Jeep Cherokee, traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed,” Grmusha later explained. “Additional witness interviews and evidence recovered during the investigation indicated the black Jeep Cherokee was engaged in a street race with a blue Chevy Camaro when it struck the victim and fled the location eastbound on Sunnymead Boulevard.”
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While Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team deputies were processing the scene for evidence, the two men who were involved in the street race returned to the scene and turned themselves in.
Jorge Eduardo Diaz, 20, of Moreno Valley, identified himself as the driver of the Jeep Cherokee, while Miguel Angel Garcia Valdez, 23, of Perris, identified himself as the Chevy Camaro’s driver.
Based on their investigation deputies later arrested both Diaz and Valdez, before booking them into custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on multiple felony charges related to the incident.
Online jail records indicate that both Diaz and Valdez were booked on suspicion of second-degree murder, hit and run resulting in death, reckless driving resulting in great bodily injury, and engaging in an illegal speed contest.
Records also revealed that both men remain in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond and both are scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice on March 10.
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Officials have not yet determined if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the collision, pending toxicology results.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call Deputy Evan Bechtold of the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 486-6826 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 776-1099. Callers can refer to incident file number MV210650173 and can remain anonymous. You can also leave anonymous information on our Crime Tips Online Form. Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847).
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
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 30 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 18 grandchildren.
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