Police Make Arrest In Deadly Hit-And-Run Crash

Cathedral City police now have a suspect in custody after a deadly hit-and-run crash Friday night.

Police arrested Randy Merida, 26, of Cathedral City. Merida was unlicensed and showed the objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and or drugs, said Sgt. Corwin de Veas.

He was booked into the Riverside County Jail, in Banning for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit-and-run causing injury and driving under the influence.

Cathedral City Police responded to a report of a hit and run in the 31500 block of Ave Maravilla. When officers arrived they located Pedro Cervantes, 24, lying in the street.

“He told his dad I’m going to get that TV for my mom, remind me to give it to her when she comes. He was almost across the street when the car hit him,” said Rosa Cervantes, Pedro’s sister.

Paramedics rushed Cervantes to Desert Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.

A witness followed the suspect and provided a Cathedral City Police Dispatcher with the suspect’s vehicle information. The witness followed the suspect to the area of San Joaquin Road and San Jose Road in the Dream Homes area and watched the suspect run into the desert towards Gene Autry Trail.

Pedro had spina bifida and was confined to a wheelchair most his life. He leaves behind dozens of brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.

Family remember him as a happy person and well-liked around the neighborhood.

“Any of these gas stations, the little meat market, the 99 cent store, everyone knew him. I just went to Walmart to get pictures, the guy from Walmart knew him and the guy is from Yucca Valley,” said Cervantes.

Family members are raising money for Pedro’s funeral. They’re dropping off donation boxes around the valley hoping the neighborhood can come together and help.