Motorist Arrested in CHP Officer’s Death
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The driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed a CHP motorcycle officer in Riverside Wednesday was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol on Thursday identified the officer as Shannon Distel of Murrieta, a six-year veteran of the agency.
Distel was traveling east on Van Buren Boulevard west of Dauchy Avenue when a Toyota pickup towing a trailer made an illegal left turn in front of him, CHP Officer Jim Whitney said. Distel was thrown from his motorcycle and died at Riverside County Regional Medical Center.
The driver of the truck, Miguel Martin, 31, of Riverside, was arrested at the scene and is being held at the Presley Detention Center in Riverside. Neither he nor the two passengers in the truck were injured, Whitney said.
Distel is survived by his wife, Deanna; two children, Brionna and Brody; and two stepchildren, Savannah and Tucker Wetherbee.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside.
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