Shortly after 11:00am on March 17, 2025, Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr. initiated a pursuit of a stolen vehicle that had been reported to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department just minutes earlier. Almost immediately after initiating the pursuit, Deputy Sheriff Cuevas’ vehicle collided with another car and then a nearby power pole at the intersection of El Evado and Seneca Roads in Victorville.

Tragically, Deputy Cuevas was critically injured in the traffic collision and, although first responders rushed to administer aid, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 
  
The driver of the stolen vehicle stopped at El Evado Road and Zuni Lane and fled of foot. He was apprehended a short time later and taken into custody, charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, evading a police officer, and causing death or serious injury. He had a history of evading law enforcement and a lengthy criminal record for vehicular thefts.

Deputy Sheriff Cuevas had served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and his siblings.