The crash occurred at about 11:40 a.m. Monday near Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center. Authorities confirmed the victim was an employee of the hospital.
Officers were in a nearby parking lot when they approached a parked car because of a vehicle code violation, police said. Police said the driver took off as officers walked up to the car.
Police said that just seconds later, as officers were getting into their patrol vehicle to begin a chase, the suspect struck a pedestrian believed to have been on a sidewalk not far from the medical center.
The victim was later pronounced dead.
No description of the suspect has been released. Police said the driver remains at large and the search is ongoing.
Loved ones set up a GoFundMe account to help the family of the victim. The fundraising page identified the victim as Peter Mullis.
The GoFundMe page stated that Mullis and his wife Layla were in the process of going through IVF at the time of the tragic incident.
"Peter and Layla shared a beautiful dream of growing their family together and were in the midst of their IVF journey when their lives were forever changed. In addition to helping with funeral expenses and everyday financial burdens, donations will also help Layla continue the IVF journey that Peter so deeply hoped and prayed would one day make them parents. Supporting Layla in fulfilling that dream is one way we can help carry forward the future they envisioned together," the page read.