A 62-year-old man, Ezekial Avendano Lopez, was taken into custody on suspicion of causing a fatal multi-vehicle wreck while trying to evade law enforcement, as detailed by the Riverside Police Department on Monday.
The incident can be traced back to October 24, when Fontana detectives had made Lopez the subject of an investigation. At one point during the process, he reportedly rammed his vehicle into an unmarked police car and subsequently fled the scene. The reasons behind the initial investigation into Lopez have not been disclosed.
Following a brief loss of track, detectives later discovered Lopezs white Nissan Maxima involved in a significant traffic accident, taking place at Riverwalk Parkway and Collett Avenue crossroads in the La Sierra district.
The multi-vehicle crash reports were reportedly received by the Riverside Police around 2:30 p.m. The total number of cars implicated remains unspecified. The later arrestee, Lopez, suffered moderate injuries and was brought to a local hospital for medical attention. A 49-year-old woman who was a passenger in Lopezs vehicle was also hospitalized but ultimately passed away from her injuries. Her identity remains undisclosed.
From the other cars involved in the incident, three individuals sustained minor injuries. After being medically cleared, Lopez was arrested and taken to the Robert Presley Detention Center under charges of assaulting the Fontana detective with a lethal weapon. Currently, Lopez is being held on a $1 million bail. Additional charges concerning the fatal accident are pending.
Investigators are keen to speak with any witnesses who might have seen Lopezs driving just before the accident. The police urge those with pertinent information to reach out to Traffic Detective Jeff Derouin at 951-826-8722 or [email protected].
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