California Deputy Killed in High-Speed Chase Crash That Split Cruiser in Two

A tragic high-speed pursuit in Victorville, California, has left the law enforcement community mourning the loss of Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr. The 36-year-old San Bernardino County deputy was killed on duty Monday morning when his police cruiser was split in two following a collision with another vehicle during a chase. The pursuit was aimed at apprehending a suspect driving a stolen vehicle.

San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon Dicus described Cuevas as "the type of law enforcement officer that we all want to be"—a protector, a father, and an admired colleague. "Hector was a devout family man and a cop’s cop, capable of handling gang members with authority while also comforting children and making them feel safe," Dicus shared.

The horrific accident occurred at around 10:58 a.m. when deputies spotted the stolen vehicle near Mojave Drive and Amargosa Road. The suspect, identified as Ryan Turner, failed to yield, leading to a pursuit. During the chase, Deputy Cuevas’s cruiser collided with another vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries. Cuevas was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female driver of the other vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Turner’s attempt to flee didn’t last long. After abandoning the stolen vehicle near El Evado Road and Zuni Lane, he was apprehended on foot and taken into custody. Turner now faces charges including Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated and Failure to Yield Causing Death or Serious Injury.

Images from the crash site reveal the severity of the accident, with the deputy’s vehicle split in half—a stark reminder of the dangers officers face daily. Cuevas, a six-year veteran of the force, leaves behind his wife, two children, his parents, and siblings—a loss that Dicus said would weigh heavily on the department and community for a long time.

Turner’s record raises eyebrows. Sheriff Dicus noted that Turner had been previously arrested for evading police in Rialto, during which he caused another law enforcement cruiser to crash into a citizen’s vehicle. This history underscores the recklessness of his actions and the devastating consequences they’ve had.