Body Found On 91 Freeway Identified

RIVERSIDE, CA — A pedestrian found dead on the right shoulder of the 91 Freeway early Thursday morning walked into traffic and was fatally struck, but the driver who hit the person fled the scene, the California Highway Patrol has determined.

The pedestrian, who was identified late Thursday as 33-year-old Sean Bowman of Riverside, was found dead around 12:2o a.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, east of La Sierra Avenue, in Riverside.

A preliminary CHP investigation suggests the man walked directly in the path of a vehicle that hit him. "After the collision, the unknown driver fled the scene and is still outstanding," CHP Officer J. Quintero reported Thursday afternoon.

The reason why Bowman was on the freeway is still under investigation.

Any witnesses who may have observed the incident are asked to call the CHP's Accident Investigation Unit at 951-637-8000.

Another person walked into traffic Thursday morning and was killed, but in that case the driver stopped.

The fatality involving a woman happened at 6:15 a.m. near the intersection of Florida Avenue and Inez Street in Hemet, according to the Hemet Police Department.

Sgt. Dan Reinbolt said the woman, whose identity was not immediately released, was initially standing on the south sidewalk of Florida, facing north on the four-lane road.

A 49-year-old Hemet man at the wheel of a 2008 Chrysler 300 was eastbound on Florida at roughly 40 mph when the woman "stepped out into the roadway, directly in front of the sedan, and was struck immediately," Reinbolt said.

He said the motorist, who was not injured, immediately stopped and called 911.

Paramedics arrived within a few minutes and initiated life-saving measures, according to the sergeant.

The victim was taken to Hemet Valley Medical Center, where she died a short time later. An autopsy was pending.

The driver was questioned and determined not to be under the influence, Reinbolt said.