A teenage driver accused of fleeing the scene of a crash was arrested when he unknowingly drove through a pedestrian safety operation being carried out by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies.
The teen, who was also driving without a license, was taken into custody on suspicion of hit-and-run, said Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. J.P. Strang. Two other teenage boys in the vehicle were released to their parents, the sergeant said.
The operation was conducted from 7 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Perris crosswalks known to have a high incidence of crashes involving pedestrians, Strang said.
Overall, 50 drivers were stopped, with 47 of them receiving citations for failing to yield to a pedestrian, according to Strang. Additionally, four drivers were cited for driving unlicensed or with a suspended license.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has investigated four fatal collisions involving pedestrians in Perris within the past year, amid rising pedestrian fatalities statewide.
–City News Service