A 22-year-old man is facing serious charges after leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in tragedy. Ryan Dwayne Turner Jr., a resident of San Bernardino, is charged with murder, evading a peace officer, and grand theft auto. This incident resulted in the death of Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr., who was involved in the pursuit.
The chase lasted about nine minutes, with Turner reportedly driving over 100 miles per hour and running through four red lights. Authorities believe he was driving a stolen vehicle at the time. The fatal crash occurred at around 11:09 a.m. at the intersection of Seneca and El Evado roads. Deputy Cuevas was pursuing Turner when the collision happened.
After the crash, Turner fled the scene. This is not his first encounter with law enforcement; he had previously fled from police during a chase in Rialto last year, which caused an accident involving a law enforcement vehicle. He served eight months in prison after pleading no contest to grand theft auto in that case.
The district attorney, Jason Anderson, stated that the reckless nature of Turner’s driving shows a disregard for human life, which is why murder charges are appropriate. Investigators are still piecing together the details of the crash, examining skid marks and other evidence.
One other driver, Marcellina Demyan, was also involved in the accident and is recovering from her injuries. She reported that she did not hear any sirens or see lights from the pursuing vehicles as she made a left turn on a green arrow.
The crash was severe, with Deputy Cuevas’s SUV appearing to be severely damaged at the scene. He is survived by his wife and two children, and the sheriff’s department has expressed deep sorrow over his loss, highlighting his dedication to his role as a protector and father.
Turner is scheduled to be arraigned in the Victorville Courthouse on Thursday. The community is left mourning the loss of a dedicated officer while grappling with the implications of reckless driving during police pursuits.