DRIVER ARRESTED IN HIT & RUN COLLISION THAT KILLED TEENAGE BICYCLIST
Originally published as a Riverside Police Department Facebook post –
RIVERSIDE, CA – Traffic Bureau Detectives have arrested the driver involved in a hit and run traffic collision that killed a 15-year-old bicyclist earlier this month. Rosendo Morales Caldera, 37-years-old of Riverside, has been booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for felony hit and run causing death and violation of parole.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2020 at approximately 9:30 p.m., Riverside Police Officers and Paramedics with the Riverside Fire Department responded to the area of Main Street and Poplar Street for reports of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a juvenile bicyclist. Unfortunately, the bicyclists sustained major injuries and died at the scene. He was later identified as 15-year-old Javier Gonzalez.
The Riverside Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) responded and assumed the investigation. They determined a black pickup truck was traveling south on Main Street when it collided with the bicyclist who was riding north on Main Street in the wrong direction of travel. After the collision, the pickup truck fled the scene without stopping.
This collision was captured on video from several businesses in this area, which helped detectives develop information that led to them identifying the driver as Rosendo Caldera. On Tuesday, March 22nd and with the assistance from our METRO Team, Mr. Caldera was located and arrested at his home in Riverside, and his black Chevrolet truck was impounded. He is currently being held in custody without bail.
Javier Gonzalez’s family stated, “We are still devastated by the loss of our sweet Javier and we miss him every day. But we are thankful the man who killed him is now in jail and we can slowly begin the healing process.”
Our Traffic Bureau would like to remind the public that if you are involved in any traffic collision, the law requires you to stop and exchange information or call law enforcement. Furthermore, they want to emphasize for drivers to slow down when on busy streets, especially at night, and if you pass someone riding a bike, do so safely. However, they also stress that bicyclists are not exempt from traffic laws and they too need to follow the same rules of the road as drivers.
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation and arrest should contact Traffic Bureau Detective Jeff Derouin at (951) 826-8722 or JDerouin@RiversideCA.gov.
