Police arrested a 21-year-old Temecula woman after authorities said she struck the teen while fleeing officers responding to a burglary report.
MENIFEE, CA — A 13-year-old boy riding an electric bicycle was killed Tuesday after police said a woman fleeing officers during a pursuit ran a red light and struck him at a Menifee intersection.
The Sept. 15 collision followed a report of a burglary in progress in the 27000 block of Hemingway Court, according to the Menifee Police Department. Officers were dispatched at about 4:54 p.m. Police said an officer arriving at the scene saw a vehicle leaving and attempted to stop it, but the driver did not yield, beginning what authorities described as a brief pursuit.
Police said the vehicle traveled westbound on Holland Avenue at a high rate of speed. When it reached Evans Road, the driver went through a red traffic light and struck the boy, who was riding his e-bike northbound on Evans Road. Officers stopped to provide emergency medical aid, and CAL Fire personnel continued lifesaving efforts after arriving at the intersection.
The boy died from his injuries. CBS Los Angeles identified him as Cody Villatoro, a 13-year-old Menifee resident. Authorities have not released additional details about where he was headed before the collision or other circumstances surrounding his ride.
Police identified the driver as Melody Valdez, 21, of Temecula. Investigators said Valdez continued driving after the collision until her vehicle became disabled and stopped. She was then taken into custody. Police said she was the only person inside the vehicle.
Valdez was booked into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of multiple felony offenses. Published reports citing police and jail records listed suspected offenses including homicide, hit-and-run causing death, evading police causing death and burglary. The allegations remain subject to the criminal court process, and police have not said that a conviction has been obtained on any of the allegations.
The California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team was asked to take responsibility for investigating the fatal collision. Menifee police, working with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, are handling the related criminal investigation. Authorities have not publicly released a final reconstruction of the crash or a complete account of the pursuit.
Police said the investigation remains active and have sought information from people who witnessed the pursuit or collision, including any surveillance, dash-camera or other video that may have recorded part of the incident. Valdez was scheduled to appear in court Friday, Sept. 18, according to court information cited by local reporting.
The case remains under investigation as authorities examine both the fatal collision and the events that led to the pursuit. Additional findings from investigators and any formal criminal filing by prosecutors had not been publicly detailed as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated September 17, 2026.