Pedestrian struck and killed by driving, on-duty Riverside County deputy identified

The pedestrian who died after being struck by a driving on-duty Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy in Moreno Valley was identified as 27-year-old Rafaela Salazar-Ruiz, according to the Riverside County coroner’s office.

The collision occurred on Thursday at 3:54 a.m. in the area of Cactus Avenue and Heacock Street, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a press release. The deputy, who was not identified, had not been responding to an emergency.

Paramedics pronounced Salazar-Ruiz, a Moreno Valley resident, dead at the scene. California Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal collision.

Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.