A pedestrian killed by an alleged drunken driver in Perris was identified Wednesday as a 53-year-old Moreno Valley resident.
Rogelio Merlan was fatally injured about 7 p.m. Saturday when he was struck, allegedly by 27-year-old Lizbet Diaz, on San Jacinto Avenue.
According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Orlando Castaneda, Diaz was allegedly speeding eastbound in her sedan on San Jacinto when she veered to the right, hitting two parked vehicles before plowing into Merlan, who was walking on the shoulder of the roadway, near Dunlap Drive.
Castaneda said the victim suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics less than 20 minutes later.
Diaz suffered a minor injury and was taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment, after which she was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of second-degree murder and hit-and-run resulting in injuries.
Castaneda said the investigation confirmed that the suspect was inebriated.
The District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, and a criminal complaint could be filed against Diaz Thursday.