Police arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run after a vehicle struck riders in a group of about 30 cyclists.
MONTCLAIR, Calif. — Two bicyclists were killed and two others injured when a driver suspected of being under the influence struck several people participating in a Halloween-themed group ride late Saturday in Southern California, according to the Montclair Police Department.
The collision was reported about 10:39 p.m. Oct. 24 near Kingsley Street and Tudor Avenue in Montclair, a San Bernardino County city east of Los Angeles. Police said about 30 cyclists were riding east on Kingsley Street when a westbound vehicle struck several members of the group. Investigators said the driver left the scene after the collision.
One cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. A second rider was taken to a hospital and died early Sunday, according to police accounts cited by local news organizations. A third cyclist suffered major injuries and remained hospitalized in stable condition. A fourth rider suffered a minor head injury and declined additional medical treatment. Authorities had not publicly released the names of those killed.
Police identified the driver as Valentin Alberto Rodriguez, 38, of Montclair. Investigators said witness information helped officers identify him and locate him at his home near the crash scene. He was arrested at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday and booked into the West Valley Detention Center.
Rodriguez was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence causing injury or death, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08% causing injury or death, felony hit-and-run involving death or serious injury, and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to reports citing police. The allegations are accusations, and Rodriguez has not been convicted of the offenses.
The cyclists were taking part in what police described as a self-coordinated Halloween ride. Authorities said the event was not sponsored, organized or affiliated with the city of Montclair. The group included about 30 riders traveling together when the collision occurred.
Some initial reports and witnesses said one victim was dragged a significant distance after being struck. Accounts of the exact distance varied, and authorities had not publicly provided a detailed reconstruction of that part of the collision. Police also had not released a complete account of the vehicle’s movements immediately before and after the riders were hit.
The crash prompted a large emergency response in the residential area, with damaged bicycles and vehicle debris left along the roadway as investigators examined the scene. Police relied on information from witnesses as they worked to identify the driver after the vehicle left the area.
The investigation remained active Sunday. Authorities had not released the identities of the two people who died or additional details about the surviving riders. Police continued working to determine the full sequence of events surrounding the collision and the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.
Author note: Last updated October 25, 2026.