Banning Woman Charged With Skateboarder's Death: Court Update

BANNING, CA — A Banning woman accused of running down a skateboarder while intoxicated, and leaving him to die on the road, is due to be arraigned Thursday on felony charges, including murder.

Lilliana Ruvalcaba Diaz, 29, is being held at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning and is charged with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and hit and run.

According to Riverside County prosecutors and Banning police, Diaz was driving under the influence around 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8, 2019, in the 5000 block of Ramsey Street, when she struck Banning resident Leron Sanders, 20, who was riding a skateboard on the road's southern edge.

Instead of stopping, Diaz fled in her vehicle, police said.

Police found Sanders injured and unresponsive in the roadway. He died on the asphalt.

It took time to identify Diaz as the suspect driver, police said.

"Detectives were able to locate, document and collect vehicle parts left behind by the suspect along with additional evidence," according to the Banning Police Department. "During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify and locate the vehicle, which was seized as evidence. The driver (suspect) was later identified as Lilliana Diaz of Banning."

On January 22, 2021, a warrant was issued for Diaz's arrest. She was taken into custody at 6 p.m. that same evening by Banning police, and was booked on suspicion of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and hit and run. She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, jail records show.

If convicted on all charges, Diaz could be facing up to life in prison, the felony complaint against her shows.