Cathedral City man dies after hit & run collision, CHP investigating

A Cathedral City man has passed away after being struck by a hit and run driver on Wednesday night. Now his family asks anyone who saw what happened to come forward.

Theodore Torres was crossing Ramon Road Wednesday night when investigators say he was struck by an SUV near Avenida La Paloma.

California Highway Patrol confirms that as Torres lay on the ground, a Cathedral City Fire Department ambulance ran into him, while transporting another hit-and-run victim to Desert Regional Medical Center.

“I guess they probably didn’t see him, dressed in dark clothing, being late at night,” said Chris Sgouromitis, who owns Outpost Market directly across the street from where Torres was hit.

Sgouromitis didn’t see what happened but said Torres was one of his customers, and he worries for his family.

“I feel their sorrow, I wish them the very best,” he said.

Cathedral City Police told us that night both vehicles likely didn’t see Torres because of his dark clothing and the lack of street lighting.

Minutes before Torres was struck, 21-year-old Bernardo Montes-Rivera was also hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle on ramon.

It’s unclear if the same SUV hit both men.

Montes-Rivera remains in critical condition.

Frank Franso owns a smoke shop near the crash site and says accidents in this area keep happening.

“There’s too much traffic and no light, it’s too dark,” Franso said of Ramon Road near Whispering Palms.

The lack of light may make it difficult for investigators to get evidence from security cameras in the area.

They already collected footage from Aaron’s Furniture and News Channel 3 learned of a camera on Desi’s Auto Collision that faces directly onto the scene of the accidents.

As the investigation continues into the weekend, some question whether the ambulance should have stopped after it realized it hit someone on the street.

“They should stop and see if he’s ok and maybe take them both,” Sgouromitis said.

Torres’ family contacted News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 shortly after he passed away in the hospital Friday night. Family members said they’re planning on having a candlelight vigil near Ramon Road and Avenida La Paloma, the intersection where Torres was struck by the SUV.

Our stations we’ll keep you updated on the progress of the CHP’s investigation.