On Saturday, June 20th, the California Highway Patrol arrested the male driver who struck a motorcyclist in Corona, California. George Valentin, 25, is facing felony hit-and-run charges for fleeing the scene of an accident without stopping to check for injuries.
According to the CHP, the accident was caught on camera by two passing motorists identified as Natalie Duran and Will Ross. The video showed that at approximately 7 p.m., on Friday, June 19th, Valentin, driving a minivan sped on the eastbound lanes of 91 Freeway, west of 15 Freeway.
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The suspect struck a motorcycle driven by Chain Arunritthirot, throwing him 200 feet away from the collision scene in the middle of the freeway. Valentin then continued down the roadway with the victim’s motorcycle still on his front bender. He kept going until he crashed into a fence.
The man exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a drainage wash. Witnesses tried to stop him but lost sight of him after a while. Duran and Ross placed a call to the CHP, and officers arrived to find Arunritthirot with minor injuries; he complained of pains to his legs and arms.
The investigators estimated that the victim was traveling at 65 miles per hour and the suspect struck him at 70 mph. The video of the incident led the CHP to Valentin, and he admitted that he was the driver of the minivan. They placed him in Robert Presley Detention Center, and there’s no information on his bail bond.
The investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident. The crash remains under investigation and witnesses should contact the CHP Accident Investigation Unit if they wish to give a statement.
Those involved in hit-and-run crashes should contact a top accident lawyer for legal advice and representation.
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