PERSONAL INJURY LAW for OVER 45 YEARS! We Have Won Over 98% of Our Cases*

Friends Celebrating Birthday Killed in Riverside Wrongful Death Hit and Run

ABC 7 News reports that Christopher Morales and Desmond Franklin were killed when the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee ran a red light and slammed into their car. The two friends were out for an early birthday celebration for Morales who would have turned 26 a few days later.

Morales and Franklin were both passengers in a car driven by Morales’ girlfriend, who was injured in the Riverside car accident. The friends were driving in Riverside near the 60 Freeway, when the Jeep driver ran the red light causing the fatal accident. The Jeep driver got out of his car and fled the scene.

However, a few hours later police arrested Eric Figueroa-Reyes while he was at the hospital seeking medical attention for a broken knee-cap he sustained in the crash. While Riverside police are still investigating what exactly caused Reyes to run the red light, he will likely face criminal charges for hit and run.  

Because the hit and run driver has now been arrested, the families of Christopher Morales and Desmond Franklin can file a wrongful death case against Reyes, in addition to any criminal charges he will be facing. A wrongful death case allows the victim’s family to receive financial compensation for the untimely deaths of their loved ones. This compensation can help as they now must cover unexpected medical, funeral, or other expenses.

If you lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions in California, you should speak with a wrongful death attorney. At Walch Law, our California wrongful death attorneys have years of experience in pursuing wrongful death claims resulting from car accidents all over California. We understand that while no amount of money can make up for the loss you are suffering, it can help provide some financial assistance and compensation.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of Christopher Morales and Desmond Franklin and hope they can get the justice they deserve in this difficult time.

Contact Information