A tragic incident in Victorville, California, led to the death of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr. on Monday. Deputy Cuevas, 36, died during a high-speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle driven by 22-year-old Ryan Dwayne Turner Jr. The chase ended in a crash at the intersection of Seneca and El Evado roads when Cuevas’s vehicle collided with another car and then a light pole, splitting his patrol SUV in two. Cuevas was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a wife and two children.
Turner, the suspect, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, evading a peace officer, and causing death or serious injury. According to the Los Angeles Times, Turner had a history of fleeing from law enforcement. He had been released from prison just months prior for a similar high-speed chase in January 2024, where he caused another officer to crash.
During a news conference, Sheriff Shannon Dicus described Deputy Cuevas as a dedicated officer and family man. “He was a grand and great protector and a great father,” Dicus said. The sheriff also criticized the California penal code, which allowed Turner an early release from his previous sentence.
The female driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She expressed sympathy for Cuevas’s family, noting that she did not see the patrol car before the collision.
Turner is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Thursday. The Sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the crash to determine its exact cause.
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