Inland Valley

Q. Hello Honk: While driving in Hemet I noticed some horses walking on a public sidewalk. I didn’t see any horse trails, such as in Anaheim Hills and in Yorba Linda. Then a few blocks later, I saw another horse on a public sidewalk, but this time the rider was drinking a beer. Can a horse use a public sidewalk, and can you consume beer while riding a horse on a public sidewalk, trail or road?

– Mario Luna, Anaheim

A. Riders are prohibited from guiding their steeds onto sidewalks, said Alan Reyes, a spokesman for Hemet, unless there is a sign posted allowing such.

He was kind enough to have a traffic officer dig into state law for that answer, which doesn’t appear to be spelled out neatly in the California Vehicle Code, but the officer was able to interpret the law by looking at several sections.

As to drinking alcohol in a public space, a city law prevents anyone from doing so unless that is explicitly allowed by authorities, say during a fair or fundraiser.

That includes when taking Mr. Ed out for a trot.

“If a civilian was (drinking) an alcoholic beverage in Hemet while riding their horse on a public sidewalk, it would be treated as drinking in a public space,” Reyes said.

Horses with riders, under state law, are in many situations treated as vehicles. So it could get worse that an open-container citation, much worse – if warranted, the rider could get arrested for driving under the influence.

Q. A gas station recently hit my debit card for more than $100 when I’d pumped only $10 worth. The correct debit was shortly made, but is the brief overcharge even legal? Surely in 2022, the station’s computer can tell when I’ve pumped $10.

– Brice Fialcowitz, Santa Ana

A. A few years ago, Honk purchased a pizza or two and was worried about an overcharge appearing on his account when he checked online. He knew the owner, who explained it would go away and it did.

On some transactions, the business first makes sure you have the cash to pay the bill – and electronically contacts your cardholder and gets authorization for an amount higher than the tab will be.

“This generally occurs at the gas pump or at a restaurant,” one company told Honk this month when he was issued a card loaded up with money as a reward for buying contacts. “The hold is only temporary until the transaction is finalized.

“While the hold is typically brief, it may remain on your card for up to seven days. Once the transaction is finalized, you will only pay for the gas you purchased.”

Holds used to be perhaps $100 to $125. But the Wall Street Journal last month reported that Visa and Mastercard – with gas prices rising – allow up to $175 gas-station holds.

If not enough cash is tied to a debit card, the transaction could be declined or the user could go into overdraft protection, the Journal said, and credit cards could get maxed out for a bit.

Mastercard and Visa, the newspaper reported, said their gas-station holds typically last two hours.

HONKIN’ FACT: California issued its first driver’s licenses, the size of letters, in 1913. Photos, in black and white, were added in 1958 and went to color in 1972. In 1990, the magnetic strip and hologram were added. In 2010, drivers under 21 were issued vertical licenses – helping bartenders and stores spot those who shouldn’t have liquor (Source: The Department of Motor Vehicles).

To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk

An Apple Valley man accused of committing a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed two children in the Mojave Desert turned himself in to law enforcement on Tuesday, July 12, the California Highway Patrol said.

Edgar Ivan Galindo Diaz, 35, turned himself into authorities in Victorville, the CHP said in a news release. The CHP was working with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to submit charges against Diaz, authorities said.

The registered owner of the 2021 Polaris RZR believed to be involved in the July 2 incident was also arrested, the CHP said in a news release. The owner’s identity was not immediately available.

Diaz was believed to be responsible for the fatal crash that killed 12-year-old Jacob Victor Martinez of Moreno Valley and 11-year-old Christina Bird of Huntington Beach in the Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area north of Victorville.

On July 2, the children were driving an ATV east on Stoddard Wells Road, east of Central Road when they were struck by the Polaris. The operator of the Polaris then fled the scene.

CHP officers were able to locate and recover the Polaris Diaz’s home in Apple Valley on the evening of Thursday July 7, the CHP said. An arrest warrant was then issued for Diaz, the CHP said.

A man died and a woman was injured when the car they were traveling in crashed in Yorba Linda early Tuesday morning, July 12, authorities said.

The car was apparently speeding on Yorba Linda Boulevard when the man lost control and crashed near Avenida Rio Del Oro about 1 a.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Hylton said.

The woman was taken to a local hospital, where she was stable.

It wasn’t known what direction the vehicle was heading at the time of the crash. Video from OnScene TV, a news outlet, shows a white sedan up on a curb near a tree and an embankment.

It wasn’t known what other objects, if any, the driver struck.

POMONA — A pedestrian is dead after being struck in a hit-and-run collision in Pomona, and detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Officers from the Pomona Police Department’s Traffic Services Bureau were called about 9:33 p.m. Monday to Holt Avenue and New York Drive, where they found a man between 30 and 40 years old suffering from severe injuries.

Evidence at the scene suggested the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while he was crossing the street, and officers checked the area for an involved vehicle but did not locate one, said a Pomona PD spokesman.

Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and took the pedestrian to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect vehicle make, model, and color are still unknown at this time, police said.

The department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating this collision and anyone with information about it is was asked to call the department’s Traffic Services Bureau at 909-802-7741 or 909-620-2048. Anyone with information that would aid in solving any crime is encouraged to call 909-620-2048.

A motorist died in a rollover crash in the Rubidoux area of Jurupa Valley on Sunday.

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Traffic Collision w/extrication:rpt@11:24 a.m. 4000blk Rubidoux Blvd. in Rubidoux. Single vehicle roll over with 2 occupants; 1 w/serious injuries required extrication and 1 w/minor injuries self extricated. Both were transported by ground ambulance. RSO investigating.#RubidouxIC pic.twitter.com/LCNs8LTi5T

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) July 10, 2022

The crash was reported at 11:22 a.m. near 3986 Rubidoux Blvd., near Mission Boulevard, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s deputies found two people in an overturned Jeep Cherokee. Both were transported to Riverside Community Hospital. The driver was pronounced dead at the hospital. The passenger was uninjured, the department reported.

The deceased’s name was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

According to the department, the driver  was heading north on Rubidoux and suddenly became unresponsive, losing control of the vehicle, which hit a parked truck and overturned. It was not yet known if alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 951-955-2600 or 951-776-1099.

A Winchester teenager who was not wearing a seatbelt was ejected and killed in a wreck at a French Valley intersection when a Jeep rolled several times, authorities said Sunday, July 10.

The deadly crash happened Saturday, July 9, at 12:42 p.m. at Auld and Pourroy roads, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The agency said a Jeep Cherokee crashed into a Buick Regal that was making a left turn at the intersection. The Jeep rolled three to four times before coming to rest on its wheels, the CHP said.

A 17-year-old Winchester girl was tossed from the Jeep onto the sidewalk, suffering fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the CHP. Her name was not immediately available.

The 47-year-old Winchester woman behind the wheel of the Buick had moderate injuries and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center.

The 21-year-old Moreno Valley man driving the Jeep was wearing a seatbelt and was uninjured, according to the CHP.

The crash was under investigation.

A 25-year-old motorcyclist was fatally injured when he collided with a sports sedan that turned in front of him at a Riverside intersection, authorities said.

Michael Winter of Redlands died about 8:10 p.m. Thursday, July 7 in the crash at Streeter Avenue and Jerry Louder Drive, according to the Riverside Police Department.

Sgt. Andrew Leyva said that Winter was riding his Suzuki northbound on Streeter at an undetermined speed when he reached the intersection at the same time that a 32-year-old motorist in a Dodge Charger arrived from the opposite direction and initiated a left turn onto Jerry Louder Drive.

“As both vehicles entered the intersection, they collided,” Leyva said.

He said Winter was ejected onto the roadway, suffering catastrophic injuries. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics a few minutes later.

The Dodge driver, whose identity was not disclosed, was not hurt, nor was the motorist’s passenger.

Both were interviewed by investigators. No one was arrested.

“At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drugs may have been contributing factors,” the sergeant said.

He said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact the police Traffic Bureau at 951-826-8724.

Cyclist Daniel Oss has been forced to retire from this year’s Tour de France with a broken neck after he collided with spectators.

The Team TotalEnergies rider crashed into fans at high speed while they were lined up along a cobbled street during Stage 5 between Lille and Arenberg.

Footage shows Oss getting knocked off balance after clipping one fan before colliding with another who is leaning out to film the race on a phone.

“Complementary examinations have revealed a fracture of a cervical vertebra requiring immobilization for a few weeks,” a team statement read.

“Daniel Oss is therefore forced to leave the Tour de France… The whole team wishes you a good recovery Daniel.”

Multiple crashes occurred, although not all serious, during Wednesday’s Stage 5 as riders raced on cobblestones.

The Italian rider was somehow able to finish the stage despite the crash, which also involved two other riders who were brought down behind him.

During last year’s race, a fan caused a major crash after stepping in front of the racing pack holding a cardboard sign, appearing to display a message for the television cameras. The woman in question was subsequently identified and arrested by authorities.

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar is now the current overall Tour leader after winning Stage 6.

ARENBERG PORTE DU HAINAUT, France — Australian rider Simon Clarke won a crash-marred fifth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday while Wout van Aert clung onto the leader’s yellow jersey despite coming off his bike.

The big winner though was Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar, who kick-started his bid to win a third straight Tour with a sensational ride over the cobbles to slash the gap to Van Aert to 19 seconds on a day where several of his rivals lost time. Pogačar had a broad smile as he crossed the line.

“That was a really hard day. Quite stressful in the first part, and the second part was really tough. It was a lot of power on the pedals through the day, the cobbles were dusty and dangerous,” Pogačar said.

“I’m just happy this day is over and I rode well. In the end it was a really good day for me and the (UAE Team Emirates) team … I followed Jasper Stuyven in the end. He almost dropped me a few times, I struggled and I held onto his wheel. We came onto the front to take some seconds. I have to buy him a beer.”

It was a first individual win on the Tour for Clarke, who was in tears after crossing the line. Clarke had won a team time trial in the race in 2013 and also two individual stages in the Spanish Vuelta.

The 35-year-old Clarke, who rides for Israel–Premier Tech, sprinted to victory from the remnants of an early breakaway, edging out Taco van der Hoorn.

“After the winter I had when I had no team, to then have Israel ring me up and say ‘we’ll give you that chance’ just gives you such a reality check to make the most of every opportunity. All year this season, I’ve come out in every race swinging,” Clarke said.

“I still can’t believe I got it on the line there. Taco was well ahead of me with less than 50 meters to go. I was cramping in both legs and I just lined up the biggest throw I could possibly do and I just prayed it was enough. I need to watch the replay, I still don’t quite believe it.”

Edvald Boasson Hagen finished two seconds behind, at the end of the 157-kilometer (97-mile) leg from Lille Métropole to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut that went over some of the feared cobblestones that feature on the Paris-Roubaix one-day classic.

American cyclist Neilson Powless just missed out on a podium finish but moved into second in the overall standings, 13 seconds behind Van Aert and just one second ahead of Boasson Hagen.

The day saw several incidents and Van Aert was one of the first to take a tumble but his crash came as the riders were racing towards the first of the 11 cobbled sections. He was able to get back on and catch up with the peloton – although he almost went down again as he clipped the wing mirror of his own team car.

“In my opinion the roads were way too dangerous, everyone expected some stress because of the cobbles but then there was also a lot of narrowings and things on the road,” Van Aert said. “I didn’t want to take risks and the moment when I thought it was necessary to start moving up to the front I immediately crashed because of a narrowing.

“I hurt myself a bit but also I lost a bit of confidence to go really in a fight for position, and it’s a shame because at that point I let down the other boys, and I also was in the back chasing instead of having a good position on the cobbles. So for me from then on it was a fight the whole day.”

Van Aert admitted he didn’t think he would still be in yellow.

“It was a big surprise for me after the finish because I was so much in the back that I was not actually thinking about the jersey anymore,” he said.

Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan were also involved in incidents as nerves set in. Ewan’s crash came as he hit a hay bale that had come loose from the barriers and that also affected Primož Roglič, who has fallen more than 2 minutes behind his Slovenian rival.

Thursday’s sixth stage is the longest one of the race and is a hilly 220-kilometer route from Binche – in Van Aert’s native Belgium – to Longwy.

The race ends July 24 in Paris.