Last Updated on May 13, 2019 by CCAR Staff
A 33-year-old Riverside woman who pulled over on the 91 Freeway in Corona early Monday morning to help a friend was struck and killed by a passing vehicle, officials said, with California Highway Patrol officers later tracking down and arresting the hit-and-run driver.
The Riverside County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as Desiree Taitano. She died at Riverside Community Hospital about hour after the crash, the coroner said.
Three hours after the incident, CHP officers found the driver, identified as Jose Hidalgo, 48, of Corona, at his home. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash, CHP officials said.
Taitano and a friend were traveling in separate cars around 2 a.m. on the eastbound 91 near Green River Road, the friend told CHP officials.
The friend pulled over because her dogs were jumping around. Taitano pulled over and got out of her Nissan Altima to help when she was hit.
Someone pulled Taitano out of the lanes of traffic and called for help, CHP officials said.
An empty red pickup truck with front-end damage was found about 500 feet away on the freeway, authorities said. Investigators were searching for the person who may have picked up Hidalgo and drove him home, Quintero said.
Authorities asked anyone with information on the incident to call the CHP at 951-637-8000.
