Hector Cuevas Jr Obituary, Death; Sheriff’s Deputy and Dad of 2 Killed After His Patrol Vehicle Splits in Half During Stolen Car Chase

Hector Cuevas Jr Obituary, Death; – A deputy from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has tragically lost his life following a vehicle pursuit.

On March 17, the department announced that Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr., aged 36, died after his patrol car collided with another vehicle while pursuing 22-year-old Ryan Dwayne Turner Jr., who was driving a stolen vehicle.

According to a news release, “On Monday, March 17, 2025, at approximately 10:58 a.m., deputies from the Victorville Station spotted a stolen car near the intersection of Mojave Drive and Amargosa Road in Victorville.” The deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop; however, the suspect, Ryan Turner, did not comply, leading to a chase.

The release further stated, “During the pursuit, Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr. was involved in a collision with another vehicle.” Unfortunately, Cuevas sustained injuries that proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of the other vehicle was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Authorities reported that Turner eventually abandoned the vehicle at El Evado Road and Zuni Lane and fled on foot but was later apprehended and taken into custody.

The Sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is currently investigating the incident to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the accident. Local media outlets KABC and KCAL shared footage from the scene, which depicted Deputy Cuevas Jr.’s patrol vehicle severed in two after colliding with a light pole.

During a press conference, Sheriff Shannon Dicus confirmed that the suspect has been charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, evading a peace officer, and causing death or serious injury. Dicus stated, “[He] will be seeking no bail from our judges.” He also noted that Turner had a history of police chases and had previously caused another officer to collide with a civilian.

The sheriff described the incident as “tragic and horrific,” revealing that Cuevas Jr. is survived by his wife and two children, as well as his parents.