California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch: Saturday, October 26, 1996
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: 8592
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: October 26, 1996
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Guilty of vehicular manslaughter
Officer Rueben Rios was struck and killed by a vehicle while he was conducting traffic control at the Glen Helen Parkway in San Bernardino.
He was hit by a drunk driver who was leaving the concert. Officer Rios was thrown onto the hood and windshield and then ejected back onto the roadway.
The 32-year-old driver was charged with drunk driving and second-degree degree murder. He had two prior drunk driving convictions, one involving an accident. He was found guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Officer Rios was a United States Army veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for 22 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, and three grandchildren. The day Officer Rios was killed, his son took the oral exam to enter the California Highway Patrol.