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A San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy was killed in a violent crash Monday that left his patrol vehicle split in two during a chase of a suspected car thief, according to authorities.
Married father of two Hector Cuevas Jr., 36, was pronounced dead at the horrific scene after he smashed into a third vehicle and then slammed his car into a light pole, according to reports.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus called Cuevas “the type of law enforcement officer that we all want to be.”
“Hector was described as a devout family man and by his law enforcement partners a cop’s cop who has the ability to go between dealing with the most hard core gang member to turning around and being able to talk to a child and making sure they felt safe and knew that they were protected,” Dicus said during a press conference.
Deputies caught wind of the stolen vehicle and attempted to pull it over around 11 a.m., but the driver, identified as Ryan Turner, 22, refused to stop, setting off the furious pursuit that involved at least two police cruisers, the sheriff’s office said.
Turner stopped the car and then fled on foot before he was tracked down and arrested.
He is expected to face charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, evading a peace officer and causing death or serious injury, the top cop said.
More information about the circumstances leading up to the crash will be uncovered following an investigation, Dicus said.
Images from the scene by KABC and KCAL showed Cuevas’ vehicle cut in half with one part next to the light pole and the other several yards down the street.
A female driver behind the wheel of the third car involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Dicus said.
Cuevas is survived by his wife, two children, parents, brother and sister.
Authorities are expected to request Turner be denied bail during a later court hearing.
