Beaumont Boy Killed In Mountain Sledding Crash ID'd By Coroner

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A Beaumont boy who was struck and killed by a van in the mountains Sunday has been identified by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

Michael Rigg, 7, was hit about 2:50 p.m. in the 5200 block of Sylvan Way, in the unincorporated community of Pine Cove, the coroner reported.

The boy was in town with his family to visit friends when he sledded down a driveway and into the street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A 35-year-old Desert Hot Springs man was driving a 2020 Ford Transit 350 van eastbound on Sylvan Way "at a low rate of speed, per witness accounts" when the boy slid under his vehicle and sustained serious injuries, the CHP reported.

The van driver stopped and helped transport the child to Cal Fire Keenwild Station, 28599 Highway 243, in Idyllwild, where he was to be airlifted to a nearby hospital, but the boy died before the aircrew could evacuate him.

He was pronounced dead just under an hour after the crash.

Alcohol and/or drugs have been ruled out as contributing factors.

This incident is still under active investigation, the CHP said.