Suspect in deadly Banning collision pleads not guilty

A man who allegedly struck and killed a motorcyclist in Banning while driving impaired pleaded not guilty today to multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder and hit-and-run.
Gabriel Simeon Beltran, 26, of Beaumont, is accused in the death of 65-year-old Banning resident Vincent Hernandez, who was killed Dec. 13 near the intersection of South San Gorgonio Avenue and Wesley Street.
Beltran allegedly fled on foot, leaving his SUV at the scene of the crash, which occurred just after 6 p.m. He was arrested about two hours later at a home in the 100 block of North Eighth Street in Banning and posted $50,000 bail prior to being charged with murder, hit-and-run, DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing injury and a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Court records show he was convicted of misdemeanor DUI in 2014 and was also charged with misdemeanor DUI in 2016. He was slated to appear on the 2016 charges in April of that year, but never showed up to court, leading a judge to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. He’s still awaiting arraignment in that case, which is scheduled for next Monday.
Beltran is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $1 million bail .