1 dies, 1 injured and arrested in early-morning Riverside crash

Last Updated on March 29, 2020 by CCAR Staff

A passenger died and the driver of the car was arrested after an early Sunday morning single-vehicle crash on Jurupa Avenue near downtown Riverside, police said.

A 1999 Infiniti G20, driven by a 21-year-old Riverside man, was going east on Jurupa Avenue and the driver failed to follow the curve at Pachappa Drive, hitting a stop sign and a light pole at 4:18 a.m., with police and firefighters called to the scene. The passenger died from his injuries, Riverside Police Sgt. Matt Lewis said.

Harrison Mendoza was treated for his injuries and arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated as well as driving under the influence allegations, Lewis said. He was in custody Sunday afternoon at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside in lieu of posting bond on $75,000 bail.

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The passenger who died was identified by coroner officials as Dennis Reed, 35, Corona.

The scene of the crash was a short distance from where Jurupa Avenue changes to Olivewood Avenue, between Pachappa Drive and Bandini Avenue, Riverside Police spokesman Ryan Railsback said.

The avenue was closed for several hours as the department’s accident investigation team worked at the site.