A teenage driver was arrested on suspicion of intentionally striking three different bicyclists in Huntington Beach in less than an hour late Sunday night, Sept. 10, killing one.
A possible motive was not disclosed by police. Nor was the minor’s name or age released.
The first hit-and-run collision occurred around 10:30 p.m. that night when a bicyclist said he was riding near Edwards Street and Warner Avenue when a black Toyota sideswiped him, leaving the cyclist with minor injuries, said Jessica Cuchilla, a police spokeswoman.
Around a half an hour later, another bicyclist was struck a quarter of a mile north of the first, at Brad Drive and Edwards, police said. That cyclist described being aggressively sideswiped by a black Toyota — leading authorities to believe that the collisions were intentional.
At 10:45 p.m., at Springdale and Heil Avenue, a black Toyota sedan struck Steven Gonzales, a 70-year-old Huntington Beach resident, who was alive when paramedics showed up but died at the scene.
On Tuesday, officers discovered the suspect’s vehicle in Huntington Beach, leading them to identify the teen as a suspect, Cuchilla said. Around 9 p.m., he was arrested on suspicion of the killing and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. On Wednesday, the boy remained in custody.
“I would like to commend the detectives who investigated these terrible crimes for their tireless work in apprehending a dangerous suspect,” Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said in a statement. “I would also like to thank the public for their tips and support as we searched for the perpetrator.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Police asked that anyone with information related to the collisions to call Huntington Beach police’s WeTip Hotline at 714-375-5066; or, if wanting to remain anonymous, OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227.
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