Bloomington hit-and-run: Woman arrested in death of tow truck driver

BLOOMINGTON, Calif.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday when 39-year-old Ricardo Valdez, a tow truck driver with Aslan Towing out of Riverside, was called to pick up a yellow Chevy Camaro on a bridge over rail road tracks near the 10200 block of Cedar Avenue.

The road is very narrow and has no shoulder. As Valdez was putting the Camaro onto the flat bed of his truck, California Highway Patrol officials say someone driving a silver Nissan Altima slammed into him at high speed.

Instead of stopping to help the victim, CHP says the driver fled the scene on foot. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Maria Ochoa, was later arrested. The CHP says she faces charges of felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter and DUI.

Valdez was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. He later died from his injuries.

"He is a lovely man, and he is the best father you could ever have," said the victim's daughter, 12-year-old Vianey Valdez.

If you have any information about this incident, you're urged to contact the San Bernardino California Highway Patrol at (909) 383-4217.

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