Sheriff's deputy fatally strikes pedestrian in Moreno Valley while responding to service call

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- An on-duty Riverside County sheriff's deputy fatally struck a woman in Moreno Valley on Thursday morning after she stepped into a street from the center median, authorities said.

The fatal crash occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on Cactus Avenue, just west of Heacock Street, according to a California Highway Patrol incident log.

CHP investigators said the deputy was responding to a call in the area with his emergency lights on at the time of the crash.

"For reasons unknown at this time, it's still under investigation, a female pedestrian walked into traffic lanes and unfortunately, was struck by that patrol vehicle," said CHP Sgt. Travis Monks.

It's unclear where the victim was walking to or from when she was struck.

Eyewitness News cameras captured a sheriff's patrol vehicle with damage to its front hood and right fender was seen at the crash site.

A yellow evidence marker was placed near a black shoe in the middle of the street, some distance from where the victim's body was covered with a sheet.

"It appears that [the victim] just appeared into the roadway from possibly the center median," Monks told Eyewitness News.

CHP's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, also known as MAIT, is leading the investigation. They said the deputy had his emergency lights on at the time of the crash.

However, a press release sent out by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department states "the deputy was not operating his vehicle in an emergency response mode at the time of the collision."

The deputy did render aid to the woman immediately after the crash, according to both agencies.

The woman has not been identified and there were no reports of any injuries to the sheriff's deputy.

Investigators are hoping cameras in the area will provide footage of the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities.