Last Updated on December 29, 2016 by CCAR Staff
RIVERSIDE >> For the second time in six days, a woman reported Thursday that a man crashed into her vehicle on the 215 Freeway in Riverside, then attempted to sexually assault her when she pulled over.
Neither woman was sexually assaulted. But both were robbed, Riverside police say.
Police can’t say for sure whether the same man carried out both attacks – the woman accosted Thursday morning was not able to provide a description of the man or his vehicle, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a Riverside police spokesman.
But the circumstances are similar: Both attacks started with a woman being rear-ended as she drove in the early-morning hours along the same stretch of the 215 near UC Riverside. That part of the 215 is also Highway 60.
Police recommend that anyone involved in a car accident pull over to a well-lit, public place, Railsback said.
If someone is hit and believes the crash was intentional, Railsback said, they should call 911 immediately, provide a detailed description of the suspect and vehicle, and continue driving until they find a safe place to stop and wait for assistance.
About 4:15 a.m. Thursday, a woman was driving north on the freeway between University Avenue and Blaine Street when someone ran into her vehicle, said Railsback. Both vehicles involved in the collision pulled over, and the man driving the other vehicle tried to sexually assault the woman, Railsback said.
The woman fended off the sexual assault, but was robbed, Railsback said. After the man drove away, he woman ran up the Blaine/Third Street off-ramp and called 911.
The location is less than a mile from where a similar incident started about 1 a.m. Dec. 23.
A woman told police that she noticed a man following her from the Mobile gas station on University Avenue next to the 215, police said.
He followed her onto the southbound freeway, then off two exits later at Central Avenue. As she slowed for a light at the end of the ramp, the other vehicle intentionally rear-ended her, police said.
When she pulled to the side of the ramp, the man – armed with a knife – got out of his car, attempted to sexually assault her and stole some of her property, police said. He drove away south on the 215.
That victim described her attacker as a skinny Hispanic man in his early 30s who was 5-foot-7 or 5-foot-8 with ungroomed facial hair. He was in an older-model, box-style small green SUV that had a broken passenger-side rear window that appeared to be covered with cardboard, police said.
Anyone with information about either incident may call Detective Karla Beler at 951-353-7125.
POLICE ADVICE
As police search for the man or men who intentionally rammed two women’s vehicles and attempted to sexually assault them, they urge drivers to be careful following any crash, especially on that occurs late at night.
Pull over in a well-lit area or at an open business.
If you believe the crash was intentional, call 911 immediately; continue driving until you find a safe place to stop and wait for help.
Try to get a detailed description of the suspect and their vehicle to provide to 911 dispatchers.
