Hemet, California — February 23, 2011
Police say a hit-and-run collision between two pickup trucks in East Hemet left two people dead on Wednesday.
The California Highway Patrol reports that crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Stetson Avenue and Cornell Street. One pickup, a Chevrolet Silverado, was carrying a family of five, 44-year-old Hemet resident Luciano Cervantes, his wife and their three children. The other contained 25-year-old Hemet resident Shane Albatross Stanscheit, the driver, and passenger Christopher Caldwell, 26.
Investigators say the force of the collision killed Mr. Cervantes and threw Mr. Cadwell from the wreckage, leaving him with fatal injuries. Meanwhile, Mr. Stanscheit fled the scene on foot.
The other four members of Mr. Cervantes’ family suffered serious injuries and were transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The crash remains under investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
UPDATE: Mr. Stanscheit was arrested around 10:30 a.m. and remains in police custody on suspiction auto theft, hit and run and gross vehicular homicide.
UPDATE: On March 1, Mr. Stanscheit pleaded not-guilty to charges of hit and run, gross vehicular manslaughter and other charges in connection with the crash.
If you would like an official copy of the police report, request a copy with this form.
