A motorcyclist was killed in a rear-end collision with an impaired driver on June 9, 2026, in Riverside.
Christopher Tapia, 39, was stopped at a red light on Van Buren Boulevard at Porter Avenue when a Nissan Sentra, driven by Guzman Noel Cisneros, 36, struck him from behind at 8:40 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Tapia died shortly after the incident, according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.
Cisneros was arrested on suspicion of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and driving under the influence with previous offenses. He is being held at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on $1 million bail. Authorities confirmed Cisneros has a prior DUI conviction under a different name.
The collision pushed Tapia’s motorcycle into the intersection, where it struck a Chevrolet Tahoe making a U-turn. Witnesses reported that Cisneros was driving impaired at the time of the crash.
According to CHP Officer Javier Navarro, individuals with previous DUI convictions receive a Watson advisement, warning them that impaired driving can result in charges of second-degree murder if a fatality occurs. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.