Suspect Arrested In Hit-And-Run Crash That Left 2 Boys Hospitalized

CALIMESA, CA — The driver allegedly responsible for a hit-and-run accident that left two juveniles with serious injuries in Calimesa was in custody Sunday, authorities said.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to the 1100 block of Calimesa Boulevard around 3:30 p.m. Thursday to a report of a hit-and-run crash. They located two boys suffering serious injuries. The boys were rushed to a hospital where they were listed with stable vital signs.

The driver and passenger of the suspect vehicle were allegedly seen fleeing the vehicle after the crash. An extensive search was conducted with assistance from sheriff's aviation and K9 units, but the suspects were not located.

Investigators later identified the suspected driver as 47-year-old Jaime Jose Aviles Munoz of Yucaipa. He was arrested in the 34000 block of Avenue E. in Yucaipa around 9:15 a.m. Saturday and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, residential burglary and driving on a suspended license, according to the sheriff's department.

Munoz was being held on a $35,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

The passenger of the suspect vehicle was also identified and interviewed by deputies, but was released, authorities said.

As of Sunday morning, one of the boys had been released from the hospital, but the other boy was still hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff's department announced.

Anyone with additional information about the case was encouraged to contact deputy Florea at 951-922-7100 or sheriff's dispatch at 951-776-1099.

— City News Service