UPDATE: Wanted felon who fled scene of Riverside collision that killed young bicyclist arrested
UPDATED: Saturday, March 26, 11:05 a.m.
Originally Published: March 2, 12:58 p.m.
See Original Story below.
RIVERSIDE, Calif., — A wanted felon who allegedly fled the scene of a Riverside traffic collision that left a 15-year-old bicyclist dead earlier this month has been arrested in the boy’s death, according to officials.
The deadly collision, which occurred in the area of Main and Poplar streets on the evening of March 1, was captured on video from several businesses in the area, according to officials. Those surveillance videos helped Traffic Bureau detectives develop information that led to them identifying the driver as 37-year-old Rosendo Morales Caldera.
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As reported by RCNS earlier this month, City of Riverside police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene around 9:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a juvenile who had been struck by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle northbound on Main Street, “in the middle of the road … in the wrong direction of travel.”
When officials arrived, they found a juvenile bicyclist just off the south side of the roadway outside an automotive repair business who had sustained major traumatic injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, the victim, previously identified as Javier Gonzalez, ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
Rosendo Morales Caldera, 37, of Riverside, (R) was arrested and booked into jail earlier this week on charges related to a fatal hit and run that killed 15-year-old Javier Gonzalez, of Colton (Photos 1 and 2). Riverside PD photos
Members of the Riverside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) who responded and assumed the investigation began to gather video surveillance footage from nearby businesses that eventually helped them to identify Caldera as the driver who fled the scene after the fatal accident.
Based on their investigative findings, on Tuesday, March 22, RPD Traffic Bureau and METRO Team officials located Caldera at his home in Riverside and arrested him. The black Chevy truck Caldera was driving at the time of the collision was impounded.
Caldera was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of felony hit and run resulting in death, driving without a license, and violation of parole. He was also booked on warrants for failure to appear in court or pay a fine, contempt of court, and vandalism.
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $125,000 bail or bond.
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After learning that Caldera had been arrested the victim’s family said, “We are still devastated by the loss of our sweet Javier and we miss him every day. But we are thankful the man who killed him is now in jail and we can slowly begin the healing process.”
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation and arrest is encouraged to contact Traffic Bureau Detective Jeff Derouin at (951) 826-8722 or [email protected]. Callers can refer to incident file 220005745 number and can remain anonymous.
Original Story: Bicyclist, 15, ID’d after killed by hit and run driver – Suspect remains sought
RIVERSIDE, Calif., — Authorities today are continuing to search for the driver of a pickup truck who fled the scene after fatally hitting a teen riding a bicycle in Riverside Tuesday evening, March 1. The victim of the hit and run died at the scene of the collision, which happened in the 2000 block of Main Street near Poplar Street, according to officials.
Tuesday night’s fatal hit and run was the second deadly Riverside accident involving a teen in the last week, after a 16-year-old boy riding a skateboard was struck by an SUV pulling a second vehicle on a trailer at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Brockton Avenue on Friday night.
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City of Riverside police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene around 9:30 p.m. after receiving reports of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a bicyclist, Riverside Police Department reported this afternoon.
When officials arrived, they found a juvenile bicyclist just off the south side of the roadway outside an automotive repair business who had sustained major traumatic injuries. The victim ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.
Officials today are continuing to search for the driver of a pickup truck who struck and killed a Colton teen in Riverside before fleeing the scene last night. Johnny Lopez / Lone Wolf News and Media photo
The Riverside County Sheriff – Coroner’s Office has since identified Javier Gonzalez, 15, of Colton, as the victim killed in the collision. A Coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 9:53 p.m.
While officers worked at the scene several clearly distraught juveniles could be seen a short distance from where their friend’s body lay and could be heard crying out in anguish while being consoled by officers.
During their preliminary investigation, officers determined that a dark-colored pickup truck was traveling south on Main Street when it struck the teen, who had been riding his bicycle northbound “in the middle of the road”, according to officials, who said the driver of the pickup truck failed to stop after the collision and fled the scene.
Anyone with information about this fatal hit and run is urged to immediately contact Riverside Police Department Traffic Detective Jeff Derouin at (951) 826-8722 or [email protected].
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Johnny Lopez / Lone Wolf News and Media photos above, video below.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 51, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and operates Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS), which act as stringer-news providers for other mainstream media organizations throughout the two regions they serve.
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.