Two people were killed and two others injured after a suspected drunk driver struck a group of bicyclists taking part in a Halloween ride in California. Police say the driver fled the scene, and one victim was reportedly dragged more than a mile before being left in a residential neighborhood.
The crash happened late Saturday, October 24, in Montclair, about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Approximately 30 bicyclists were riding together when a westbound vehicle struck several members of the group.
The driver did not stop, according to the Montclair Police Department. One bicyclist died at the scene, while another died at a hospital early Sunday morning. A third suffered major injuries, and a fourth sustained a minor head wound.
Police arrested 38-year-old Valentin Alberto Rodriguez at his home hours later. He was booked on suspicion of several offenses, including driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. San Bernardino County jail records confirm that he was being held at the West Valley Detention Center following his arrest.
Halloween Ride Turns Deadly
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The Montclair Police Department said officers responded to Kingsley Street and Tudor Avenue at approximately 10:39 p.m. on Saturday after receiving reports that a vehicle had struck several bicyclists.
The group was traveling eastbound on Kingsley Street when a westbound vehicle hit several riders. Witnesses told police the bicyclists were participating in a self-organized Halloween ride that was not sponsored by or affiliated with the city.
A 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:44 p.m., according to KTLA. Two other bicyclists were rushed to a hospital, where a 30-year-old woman died from her injuries at approximately 1:19 a.m. Sunday.
The surviving hospitalized victim suffered major injuries but was reported to be in stable condition. Another bicyclist sustained a minor head laceration and declined further medical treatment against medical advice.
Victim Dragged Over Mile
The collision reportedly continued well beyond the intersection where the bicyclists were struck.
KTLA reported that one of the victims was dragged more than a mile before being left in a residential neighborhood. The outlet’s coverage included footage of the aftermath, showing bicycles scattered across the roadway.
NBC Los Angeles reported that the vehicle was abandoned near Amherst Avenue and Flora Street, away from the initial crash site. The outlet reported that the bicyclist who was dragged died at the scene.
A resident in the neighborhood told KTLA he heard a loud thud outside his home. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, several people arrived on bicycles, visibly upset and trying to understand what had happened.
The Montclair Police Department’s initial public statement confirmed that the driver fled but did not specifically address the reported dragging incident. Police have not released a detailed account explaining how the victim became caught by the vehicle.
Suspect Arrested at Home
Police said witness information helped officers and members of the department’s Detective Bureau identify the driver and locate him at his residence near the collision scene.
Rodriguez was arrested at approximately 2:40 a.m. Sunday, roughly four hours after the crash was reported. Officers booked him into the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s West Valley Detention Center.
Records from the San Bernardino County inmate locator independently confirm the arrest. Rodriguez is listed under booking number 2610342252, with the Montclair Police Department identified as the arresting agency.
The jail record lists four offenses:
- Vehicle Code 23153(a): Driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury.
- Vehicle Code 23153(b): Driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher causing bodily injury.
- Penal Code 191.5(a): Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
- Vehicle Code 20001(b)(2): Felony hit-and-run involving injury.
The inmate locator lists Rodriguez as eligible for bail but does not display a bail amount. It also does not list a court date or projected release date in the information available as of October 25.
Although the booking includes an offense involving a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, police have not released a specific test result. The listed offenses are arrest allegations, not convictions.
Police Seek More Information
The two people killed have not been publicly identified by the Montclair Police Department. The department has also not released the identities of the surviving victims.
Police have not disclosed the vehicle’s speed, what caused the initial collision, or additional findings about the driver’s actions after striking the bicyclists.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Montclair Police Department at 909-621-4771. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through WeTip at 800-78-CRIME.