Pedestrian Killed Darting Across State Route 74 In RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 48-year-old Homeland resident was killed Wednesday night after he attempted to run across state Route 74, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Christian Benton made the attempt at approximately 6:30 p.m. He was running south across the highway in Homeland, just west of the Steinhoff Avenue intersection, when he was hit by a 33-year-old Perris man behind the wheel of a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C250 sedan, the CHP reported.

The Mercedes was traveling at approximately 40 mph when the impact occurred. Benton died at the scene; the Mercedes driver was unhurt, according to the CHP.

Homeland is an unincorporated community situated north of Winchester, west of Hemet.

The crash remains under investigation and no arrests were announced.

The CHP issued a reminder to pedestrians following the fatal wreck.

" ... when walking on or near roadways, always cross the road in a marked crosswalk, wear bright colored and reflective clothing, [and] be sure to look both ways and yield to oncoming traffic before stepping onto the roadway," the agency said.