Port Hueneme man charged with murder for striking teen bicyclists with car, killing one
PORT HUENEME, Calif. - District Attorney Erik Nasarenko reported Friday that 28-year-old Samuel Matthew Rocha of Port Hueneme has been charged with one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving his car into several teenage bicyclists.
The DA's office said the complaint charged five special allegations that Rocha personally used his vehicle as a deadly weapon and two special allegations that he personally inflicted great bodily injury.
It happened Monday night around 9:38 p.m. Port Hueneme police were dispatched to the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road and Ventura Road after receiving reports of a hit-and-run incident with injuries.
At the scene, witnesses told police that several teenage boys had been struck by a gold-colored Lexus sedan while they were biking along the road. The sedan reportedly fled the scene.
Further investigation revealed Rocha had intentionally driven the Lexus into the bikers. The collisions ultimately killed one 16-year-old boy and injured four others. Three of the boys reportedly sustained serious injuries and were transported to the hospital.
Law enforcement said just 10 minutes before the hit and runs, Rocha had reportedly assaulted a man and woman at a laundromat in Oxnard before striking an employee with his vehicle as he left the parking lot of the business.
Rocha was additionally charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of battery for that incident.
Rocha appeared in court on Friday for arraignment where he plead not guilty to the above charges and allegations.
The case was continued to June 3, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court for an early disposition conference. Rocha is currently in custody without bail.
The victim's family visited a growing memorial where it happened. Friends also hosted a car wash on Channel Islands Blvd. There is also a gofundme to help the family pay for Pedro Valdez funeral expenses.
For more information visit, https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-Pedros-funeral-service?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer
