Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by C-CAR
An off-duty Riverside police sergeant was killed in a crash on his personal motorcycle in Nuevo Monday night, Aug. 2, authorities said.
The collision involving Sgt. Matt Lewis, 45, occurred about 7:15 p.m. near Pico Avenue and Santa Rosa Road, Riverside police said Tuesday morning.
He was a 25-year veteran of the force.
“Matt was a family man who loved his four children and one grandchild dearly,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez posted online. “We hurt right now over this loss and ask our community to join us as we mourn Sergeant Lewis and support his grieving family in this immense time of need.”
A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF GONZALEZ https://t.co/6hVTcCKC9h
— City of Riverside Police Department (@RiversidePolice) August 2, 2022
Lewis was riding his motorcycle northbound on Pico Avenue when the driver of a GMC truck towing a flatbed trailer going the opposite direction failed to yield and attempted to turn left from southbound Pico to eastbound Santa Rosa Road, CHP spokesman Officer Keith Ballantyne said.
The motorcyclist crashed into the side of the truck, causing fatal injuries, Ballantyne said.
The intersection appeared to have stop signs for drivers along Santa Rosa Road, but not for those going north or south on Pico Avenue.
Dozens of officers on motorcycles and in squad cars escorted the fallen officer from the scene to the Riverside County coroner’s office overnight.
Lewis started as a cadet and worked as an officer, a detective and a sergeant in the department, Gonzalez said.
“He was well-liked and admired, not only by those he worked alongside with at our department, but throughout the law enforcement community,” Gonzalez wrote.
