Loved ones honor Southern California deputy killed in crash

A funeral service was held to honor a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy who was killed during a high-speed pursuit crash in Victorville.

Loved ones and colleagues gathered to honor the life of Hector Cuevas Jr., 36, at the Ontario Convention Center on Thursday morning.

“He had an extraordinary talent for inspiring those around him, never showing judgment or exclusion,” said Liz Cuevas, Hector’s mother.

“To know Hector is to know how deeply he loved his wife, Mia, and adored his kids, Noel and Kyro,” said Jordan Bell, an Ontario police officer.

On March 17, Hector attempted to pull over a suspect who was driving a stolen vehicle.

The suspect, Ryan Dwayne Turner Jr., 22, refused to yield and led Cuevas on a pursuit. The chase reached speeds over 100 miles per hour as Turner ran through red lights and drove recklessly, authorities said.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Hector crashed into an uninvolved vehicle at the intersection of El Evado and Seneca Roads. The forceful impact split his SUV in half and took down nearby power lines. Hector was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman in the sedan who collided with Hector was rushed to the hospital for treatment and survived. The suspect, Turner, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder to which he pleaded not guilty.

Court records show Turner’s criminal history involves several arrests and convictions for stealing cars. In 2024, he served time for stealing a vehicle in Rialto and leading police on a chase that reached speeds over 90 miles an hour before it ended with a crash.

“This is not the first time that Mr. Turner has fled when he’s been caught with a stolen car,” said San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson at a March 19 news conference.

On April 17, loved ones gathered at a funeral procession to honor Hector, a young father of two children who was a six-year veteran of the sheriff’s department. 

“When Junior chose to become a sheriff, I must admit, our hearts were filled with a mixture of pride and worry,” Liz said at the funeral service. “Junior wasn’t just choosing a job, he was choosing a mission, a way to leave the world better than he found it.”

Friends and colleagues described Hector as a man who loved sports and his community, but it was spending time with his family and being a father that brought him the most joy.

An audio message from his two children played at the funeral saying, “I love you, Daddy. You are my hero and I’m going to miss you.”

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