A bicyclist was struck and seriously injured early Thursday by a suspected drunken driver in San Jacinto.
The victim was riding through the intersection of Esplanade and San Jacinto avenues about 1:20 a.m. when the motorist ran into him, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Sgt. Anthony Pelato said patrol deputies reached the location moments later and found the “bicyclist trapped underneath the vehicle,” suffering major injuries to both legs. Firefighters extricated the man, whose name was withheld, and he was taken to a trauma center in serious but stable condition.
Pelato alleged that the suspect, who was not immediately identified, was questioned by deputies and “determined (to be) under the influence of drugs and alcohol.” He was booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of DUI and other offenses.
The intersection was partially closed for several hours while a preliminary investigation was conducted.