TEMECULA — A man was killed after being assaulted in the roadway and then being struck by a vehicle south of Temecula, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced Sunday.
A deputy from the Southwest Sheriff’s Station was conducting a routine patrol of Pechanga Parkway and Wolf Valley Road at 11:50 p.m. Saturday when he noticed an unresponsive man in the roadway on Pechanga Parkway.
The deputy rendered medical aid to the man, who had traumatic injuries that appeared consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Additional deputies and medical personnel responded and performed life-saving measures, but the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man was later identified as 35-year-old George Fresquez IV of Temecula.
Investigators believe Fresquez was assaulted in the roadway and left unresponsive. The man is believed to have also been struck by a vehicle traveling south on Pechanga Parkway after the assault.
Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. The suspect in the assault was identified as 39-year-old Alex Leyva of Vista. Leyva was later located and taken to the Southwest Sheriff’s Station, where he was interviewed and subsequently booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of murder.
Leyva was being held on a $1 million bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.
Investigators also identified the vehicle and driver responsible for striking Fresquez in the roadway. The driver was taken to the Southwest Sheriff’s Station to speak with investigators. The driver was reportedly cooperative with the investigation and was later released.
The identity of the driver was not available. Investigators don’t believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
The case was forwarded to the Riverside District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
Anyone with additional information was encouraged to contact investigator Farag at 951-955-2777 or investigator Mills at 951-696-3000.
