A Hermiston man was arrested and jailed Monday evening after allegedly hitting a bicyclist with his car and then fleeing the scene.
According to Hermiston Police Cpt. Travis Eynon, HPD officers responded to the area of N.E. Fourth Street and E. Gladys Ave., for a report of a vehicle-bicycle collision. Eynon said officers learned that a 2003 Chevrolet Impala was heading northbound on N.E. Fourth Street when it turned left onto E. Gladys Avenue and in the path of the bicyclist, who was southbound, causing the rider to collide with the right rear quarter panel of the Impala. The driver then allegedly fled the scene.
A witness followed the Impala for a short distance and was able to provide officers with a license plate and description of the driver
The bicyclist, Jason M. Simpkins, 29, of Hermiston, was treated at the scene for some minor injuries by Umatilla County Fire District 1 EMS.
Officers then went to 915 NW Stockton St., where they located the Impala. The Impala had extensive damage to the right rear quarter panel. Officers then located the driver of the Impala. Federico Ricardo DeJesus, a 44 year old male who lives at the residence. He was arrested for failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons (felony hit & run) as well as driving while suspended/revoked, a misdemeanor. He was taken to the Hermiston Police Department where he was processed then later taken to the Umatilla County Jail where he was lodged.
“Had Mr. DeJesus done the responsible thing by staying at the scene of the crash and fulfilling his responsibilities as the law requires of a driver, this likely would have been a completely different outcome for him,” said Eynon. “Instead he made the decision to flee from the crash which aggravated the incident with additional facts and he is now facing a felony charge.”
