Valle Vista, CA (February 29, 2024) A traumatic accident occurred on Highway 74 in Valle Vista on Monday when a pedestrian was hit by multiple vehicles. 27-year-0ld Elder Oswaldo Mazariegos Lopez, a resident of Hemet, was killed after being run over by multiple vehicles, officers said. Officer Jonathan Torres said that the drivers either didn’t realize they hit Lopez or they did realize it and chose to flee the scene.
Minutes before 10:00 p.m., Lopez was walking in the eastbound lanes of Highway 74. The night sky was dark and this made it difficult for vehicles to see Lopez as he walked. Officer Torres said that Lopez was first hit in lane No. 2 and was thrown into lane No. 1. The driver who first hit Lopez continued driving until he was gone, authorities said. Officer Torres said that they believe two other vehicles ran over Lopez as well. All of the vehicles fled the scene, leaving Lopez lying on the highway in the darkness.
A few moments later, someone was driving down Highway 74 when their headlights illuminated something in the road. The driver realized it was a person and pulled over to call 911, officers said.
Emergency crews hurried to the scene and found Lopez lying on the highway, unresponsive. Paramedics with the Riverside County Fire Department rushed to give life-saving measures to Lopez, but sadly, he was already deceased. With heavy hearts, they pronounced 27-year-old Lopez dead at the scene.
Officers said they do not know why Lopez was walking in the lanes of the Highway, however, leaving the scene of a pedestrian accident is illegal. Officers are doing everything they can to determine the make and model of the vehicle who first struck Lopez and fled the scene.
All of us at Accident News Now extend our deepest condolences to the family of Elder Oswaldo Mazariegos Lopez as they navigate through this difficult time of loss.
Have you or a loved one been injured in this accident? Our team specializes in pedestrian hit-and-run accidents and we are here to help! You can reach us 24/7 at 866-883-4318 or visit our online contact form at Accident News Now.
