A tragic event unfolded in Riverside where a multi-vehicle crash resulted in the death of one individual and left six others injured. The incident occurred on Market Street around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, implicating four cars, including a black Dodge Challenger driven by Isaac Isaiah Villalba, 19, of Redlands. According to KTLA’s report, Villalba, the suspected culprit attempted to flee from police and resisted arrest at the scene.
Allegations have now surfaced suggesting the young man was to be under the influence of drugs and speeding before wreaking havoc on the road. Riverside Police Department authorities believe that Villalba was driving at a high speed, crashing into a Honda Civic, and then colliding with another vehicle. The Riverside Police Department's Facebook post indicated that the driver of the Civic, Christian Barragan, aged 37, suffered grievous injuries leading to his death after being transported to a local hospital.
Riverside Police also revealed that Villalba was evaluated by a certified “drug recognition expert,” who determined that there was substantial evidence to believe Villalba was under the influence at the time of the collision. Following treatment for his injuries and assessment, Villalba was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on a string of charges, including murder. The Riverside Police Department’s call for witnesses came after comments on social media alluded to previous erratic driving before the catastrophic event unfolded.
The crash and its aftermath are still under investigation by the Riverside Police Department.
