VICTORVILLE, CA - Officials with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (SBCSD) announced that one of their deputy's tragically lost his life in a major crash on March 17th in Victorville.
According to VVNG, the incident happened at approximately 11:09 a.m. at the intersection of Seneca Road and El Elvado Road. The patrol vehicle was split in two pieces and was found in the roadway. The deputy's body was recovered by the coroner just before 1:00 p.m. Fox News reported that the police cruiser split in two following a collision with another vehicle during a chase.
The deputy who was killed has been identified as 36-year-old Hector Cuevas Jr. He was a six-year veteran of law enforcement and was assigned to the Victorville station. He leaves behind his wife, two children, his parents, and a brother and sister.
San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said that Cuevas was pursuing a stolen vehicle at the time of the horrific accident. He said, "I really have no words to describe this tragedy. Hector is the type of law enforcement officer that we all want to be. He was a grand and great protector and a great father, and we will be suffering this loss and supporting his family for quite some time."
In a statement, the sheriff's office said, "On Monday, March 17, 2025, at about 10:58 a.m., deputies from the Victorville Station observed a stolen vehicle near Mojave Drive and Amargosa Road, in Victorville. Deputies attempted a traffic stop but the suspect, Ryan Turner, failed to yield and a pursuit ensued."
The statement added, "During the pursuit, Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr. was involved in a traffic collision with another vehicle. Cuevas succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of the other vehicle was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Turner stopped the vehicle at El Elvado Road and Zuni Lane and fled on foot. Turner was subsequently caught and taken into custody."
Turner has been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and failure to yield causing death or serious injury. Dicus said that Turner was previously arrested for evading police in the city of Rialto and also previously caused a law enforcement cruiser to collide with a citizen. Turner also has a lengthy record for vehicular thefts.
When speaking about Cuevas, Dicus said, "Hector was described as a devout family man and by his law enforcement partners as a cop's cop who has the ability to go between dealing with the most hardcore gang members to turning around and being able to talk to a child and make sure they felt safe and knew that they were protected."
ABC7 reported that Marcelline Demyan, the driver of the bystander vehicle said, "I was terrified. I was sad, seeing him. I feel sorry for his family." Demyan, 23, was driving home in her black Toyota Camry and only about a block away when Cuevas' patrol vehicle crashed into her. She said since the accident, she hasn't been able to sleep because of nightmares.
During the chase of the stolen vehicle, Cuevas' cruiser crashed into Demyan's car and then slammed into a light pole. Demyan said, "Things happened so fast. So once the car stopped I opened the door to breathe from the airbag, and I saw him dead." Cuevas was well-known in the community as a high school football coach.
According to VVNG, the incident happened at approximately 11:09 a.m. at the intersection of Seneca Road and El Elvado Road. The patrol vehicle was split in two pieces and was found in the roadway. The deputy's body was recovered by the coroner just before 1:00 p.m. Fox News reported that the police cruiser split in two following a collision with another vehicle during a chase.
The deputy who was killed has been identified as 36-year-old Hector Cuevas Jr. He was a six-year veteran of law enforcement and was assigned to the Victorville station. He leaves behind his wife, two children, his parents, and a brother and sister.
San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus said that Cuevas was pursuing a stolen vehicle at the time of the horrific accident. He said, "I really have no words to describe this tragedy. Hector is the type of law enforcement officer that we all want to be. He was a grand and great protector and a great father, and we will be suffering this loss and supporting his family for quite some time."
In a statement, the sheriff's office said, "On Monday, March 17, 2025, at about 10:58 a.m., deputies from the Victorville Station observed a stolen vehicle near Mojave Drive and Amargosa Road, in Victorville. Deputies attempted a traffic stop but the suspect, Ryan Turner, failed to yield and a pursuit ensued."
The statement added, "During the pursuit, Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr. was involved in a traffic collision with another vehicle. Cuevas succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of the other vehicle was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Turner stopped the vehicle at El Elvado Road and Zuni Lane and fled on foot. Turner was subsequently caught and taken into custody."
Turner has been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and failure to yield causing death or serious injury. Dicus said that Turner was previously arrested for evading police in the city of Rialto and also previously caused a law enforcement cruiser to collide with a citizen. Turner also has a lengthy record for vehicular thefts.
When speaking about Cuevas, Dicus said, "Hector was described as a devout family man and by his law enforcement partners as a cop's cop who has the ability to go between dealing with the most hardcore gang members to turning around and being able to talk to a child and make sure they felt safe and knew that they were protected."
ABC7 reported that Marcelline Demyan, the driver of the bystander vehicle said, "I was terrified. I was sad, seeing him. I feel sorry for his family." Demyan, 23, was driving home in her black Toyota Camry and only about a block away when Cuevas' patrol vehicle crashed into her. She said since the accident, she hasn't been able to sleep because of nightmares.
During the chase of the stolen vehicle, Cuevas' cruiser crashed into Demyan's car and then slammed into a light pole. Demyan said, "Things happened so fast. So once the car stopped I opened the door to breathe from the airbag, and I saw him dead." Cuevas was well-known in the community as a high school football coach.
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Comments
2 days ago | Comment by: James
BOO HOO .... The STUPID pig got what he asked for ( https://old.bitchute.com/video/aQT-wIahlK4/ ) ...... PLAY stupid games, win stupid prizes .... You know what looks good on a pigs funeral procession ????? An A-10 warthog dumping ALL of its ordinance ........
2 days ago | Comment by: James
He was probably one of those Bandito gang banging pigs That southern California agencies are chalked full of .....
17 hours ago | Comment by: James
Do ANY of you punks and street hookers have any concern for the woman the chunk of pork plowed into ???? NOT ONE BIT ...... The pig is dead because of his OWN stupid .... GOOD RIDDANCE to him .... I'm just glad the woman is alive, ( traumatized as she may be ) .... How about replacing her destroyed property ???? BUY HER a NEW CAR you two bit PUNKS .... PAY her medical expenses PUNKS .... Be responsible for once in your useless lives ..........