A 38-year-old man was fatally struck Monday by a hit-and-run driver while standing on the shoulder of Interstate 215 in Riverside, trying to put gas into his pickup.
Gilberto Sotelo was hit about 1:45 a.m. on the southbound side of I-215, just north of La Cadena Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Sotelo’s Chevrolet Silverado went dead after running out of fuel, and he pulled to the freeway shoulder, according to the CHP. It was unclear whether he obtained a gas can from the pickup, or walked to a service station and filled up a container, then returned to the Chevy.
As he began pouring gas into the vehicle, a Honda sport utility vehicle or pickup going southbound in the slow lane at an unknown speed veered toward the victim, hitting him and his Chevy, CHP Officer Javier Navarro said.
“The driver of the Honda fled the scene and continued southbound on I-215,” Navarro said.
Witnesses stopped to render aid and call 911. Riverside Fire Department paramedics reached the location less than 10 minutes later and pronounced Sotelo dead at the scene.
CHP officers searched for the hit-and-run driver, but couldn’t locate the suspect.
“CHP investigators recovered broken parts belonging to the Honda SUV or truck,” Navarro said. “The Honda will have right side damage.”
Anyone with information was urged to contact the CHP’s Riverside office at 951-637-8000.