Hit-And-Run Victim Dies, Police Urge Driver To Surrender

Desert Hot Springs Poice confirm Friday evening, the victim involved in the hit and run, Roger Mason Pace, 49, has died.

A motorist who struck and critically injured a pedestrian in Desert Hot Springs was at large today, and police urged the driver to surrender.

Roger Mason Pace, 49, was hit about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Palm Drive south of Hacienda Avenue, said Sgt. Daniel Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

“The driver of the car that hit Mr. Pace needs to make themselves known to us so we can move forward with this investigation,” Bressler said.

The sergeant said Pace crossed “in an extremely unsafe place for a pedestrian to be,” and that he might be found at fault in the accident.

Pace, who remained in critical condition, was crossing Palm Drive toward the Kragen Auto Parts store outside a crosswalk when he was hit, Bressler said.

The vehicle was likely a dark blue with purple metallic paint 1991-94 Ford Explorer, he said. The S-U-V likely had been in a collision before.

Detectives put together a description of the vehicle based on car parts left at the scene, he said.

The SUV was last seen heading through the Stater Bros. market parking lot at the southeast corner of Hacienda Avenue and Palm Drive, the sergeant said.

Bressler says the driver might not be responsible for the crash because Pace was not in a crosswalk.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or driver was asked to call police at (760) 329-2904, ext. 2, or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.