DUI Driver Slams Into Side Of Beaumont Home, Flees: Cops

BEAUMONT, CA — A Banning man is accused of driving under the influence, fleeing from police and crashing into a Beaumont mobile home — all before running away on foot and trying to hid from authorities. Joshua Rivas, 25, was eventually arrested following a series of events in Beaumont on Tuesday night.

According to the Beaumont Police Department, it all started around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday, when someone — later identified as Rivas — was spotted driving a black Dodge Durango SUV speeding northbound up Highland Springs Avenue on the wrong side of the street.

A police officer responded to the scene, and tried to pull Rivas over. However, he took off and got away, police said.

"Officers responded to the area and began to look for the vehicle," police said in a news release. "While doing so, Beaumont Police Dispatch began to receive several 911 calls regarding a traffic collision in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue and Oak Valley Parkway."

At the crash site, police found the same Durango. However, it was crashed into the side of a mobile home.

"The driver had fled the scene and four other occupants, including two juveniles, in the vehicle had exited by the time officers and CalFire arrived on scene," police said. "Officers set up a perimeter and requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit to assist in the search."

Then, at around 10:15 p.m. someone spotted Rivas hiding in the same mobile home park, police said. He was arrested and taken to the hospital, as he was hurt in the crash. The other people that had been in the SUV were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and were released.

"There were no injuries reported from the homeowners impacted by the collision, however the home was deemed unsafe by building officials," Beaumont police said. "The homeowners were provided with assistance by the Red Cross."

The fire department said four adults and one juvenile were displaced as a result.

Rivas is now facing a slew of charges, including reckless driving, driving under the influence, causing injury while driving under the influence, evading a police officer, felony child abuse, and hit-and-run, police said.

Oak Valley Parkway was closed in the area for about an hour on Tuesday night as a result of the incident.