Leon Road at Queen Palm Drive: a gray Mazda 3 struck a 45-year-old bicyclist and kept going, and the car was later found abandoned in a dirt alley
HOMELAND, CALIFORNIA (September 26, 2026): Juan Holguin, 45, of Homeland was killed after a hit-and-run driver struck him while he was riding his bicycle at Leon Road and Queen Palm Drive shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday, September 26, according to the California Highway Patrol, as reported by City News Service.
CHP Officer Jesus Garcia said Holguin was riding on Leon Road when the driver of a gray Mazda 3 sedan struck him at an unconfirmed speed and kept going. Witnesses immediately reported that a man was down in the roadway. Holguin was taken to Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he died about four hours later.
Officers learned at the scene that the Mazda had damage to the passenger side of its front windshield, Garcia said. A search led officers to the four-door car, which had been left in a dirt alley about 1.5 miles from the crash scene, and the CHP said its damage was consistent with the collision. The car was impounded as evidence. As of Monday, the driver had not been identified and no arrest had been announced.
The CHP Temecula Area office is investigating. Anyone who saw the gray Mazda 3 near Leon Road and Queen Palm Drive on Saturday evening, or who knows who was driving it, is asked to call 951-466-4300.
Liability for the Homeland Hit-and-Run
California Vehicle Code § 20001 requires a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone to stop, render aid and identify themselves. People riding bicycles have the same rights on the road as drivers under Vehicle Code § 21200, and Vehicle Code § 21760 generally requires drivers passing a bicyclist to leave at least three feet. Based on what the CHP has released, the key issues include:
- Fleeing and abandoning the car: The driver left Holguin in the road and the Mazda was later found about 1.5 miles away. Both acts can weigh heavily in how a court views the driver’s conduct.
- Who was driving: Registration, insurance records, phone data and neighborhood cameras can help identify the driver, who may not be the Mazda’s registered owner.
- Owner responsibility: Under Vehicle Code § 17150, an owner who allows another person to drive can be held responsible up to limited amounts, which can matter if the Mazda belonged to someone else.
- How the collision happened: Whether the Mazda overtook Holguin from behind or turned into his path will be reconstructed from the damage to the windshield and the scene evidence.
Holguin’s surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. That civil claim is separate from any criminal case against the driver once he or she is identified.
Steps to Take After a Homeland Bicycle Hit-and-Run
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, bicyclist deaths in the United States have risen over the past decade, and many fatal bicycle crashes happen in the evening hours. These steps can help a family protect its rights while the CHP searches for the driver.
- Stay in contact with the CHP: Ask the Temecula Area office for the case number and updates on the impounded Mazda and the search for the driver.
- Keep the bicycle and gear: Do not repair or dispose of the bicycle, helmet, lights or clothing until they can be examined.
- Check uninsured motorist coverage: A household auto policy may include uninsured motorist coverage that applies when a hit-and-run driver cannot be found or has no insurance.
- Victim assistance: The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) may help families of hit-and-run victims with certain funeral and related expenses.
Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If road design or a public agency is involved, a government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Homeland Hit-and-Run
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Juan Holguin. Important questions remain: Who was driving the gray Mazda 3, and why was it left in a dirt alley so close to the crash scene? And was there enough lighting and room for bicyclists on Leon Road at Queen Palm Drive on Saturday evening?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck, bicycle or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on September 30, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 26, 2026.
