Pedestrians Critically Injured, Drivers Sought In Hit-And-Run Crashes

SAN JACINTO, CA — The Riverside County Sheriff's Department reached out to the public Tuesday afternoon for information about two separate San Jacinto hit-and-run crashes that left two pedestrians in critical condition.

The agency said it is looking for two drivers — one who was piloting a compact, dark-colored box-style SUV and the other who was behind the wheel of a smaller passenger vehicle.

The most recent crash occurred Sunday night on Meridian Street, south of Beringer Drive. At around 8:18 p.m., deputies were called to the area regarding a female pedestrian who was hit.

The victim was found on the side of the road, and a preliminary sheriff's department investigation determined she was walking across the residential street when she was hit by a compact, dark-colored box-style SUV.

"The vehicle failed to stop and fled the collision scene southbound on Meridian Street," the sheriff's department reported.

The motorist has not been located.

The victim was sent to a local hospital and remains in critical condition, according to the sheriff's department.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Deputy Bunn at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at 951-766-2366 or Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951-776-1099.

The other incident was reported at 7:29 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Deputies were called to Midway Street, west of San Jacinto Avenue, regarding a major injury crash involving a pedestrian.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found an unresponsive male with "significant injuries" on the road's shoulder, the sheriff's department said.

A preliminary investigation showed the victim was walking westbound on the road's shoulder when he was hit by a westbound vehicle.

"The vehicle failed to stop and fled the scene, turning northbound onto Santa Fe Avenue," according to the sheriff's department. "Deputies believe the vehicle was a smaller passenger-type vehicle of unknown color."

The victim was stabilized and sent to a local hospital, where he is listed in critical condition, according to the department.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Deputy Postle at the San Jacinto Sheriff's Station at 951-766-2497 or Riverside County Sheriff's Dispatch at 951-776-1099.