Murrieta Man Arrested After Suspected DUI Crash In Perris Critically Injures Motorcyclist: Sheriff

PERRIS, CA — A 61-year-old Murrieta resident suspected of driving under the influence of a controlled substance was arrested Wednesday following a crash in Perris that critically injured a motorcyclist, authorities said.

Deputies responded to reports of crash involving a motorcycle around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday near the 500 block of West Fourth Street and found the injured motorcyclist on the roadway, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

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The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition, authorities said.

The driver, later identified as Mauricio Cruz Cortez of Murrieta, remained at the scene after the crash and cooperated with the investigation, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators from the Perris Traffic Reconstruction Team also responded to the scene and determined Cortez was under the influence of a controlled substance.

Cortez was arrested without incident and booked in the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of driving under the influence causing serious bodily injury, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The westbound lanes of West Fourth Street were temporarily closed while investigators processed the scene and collected evidence.

Anyone with information about the collision was asked to call the Perris Sheriff's Station at 951-210-1000 or the Riverside County sheriff's dispatch at 951-776-1099.