Rancho Mirage Hit And Run: Police Puts Long Island Man Behind Bars Who Drove Under Influence

A 57-year-old woman was pronounced dead after a fatal hit-and-run crash in Rancho Mirage, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities said the suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

Investigators said the crash occurred around 8:10 a.m. on May 16 near the intersection of Dinah Shore Drive and George Montgomery Way. The victim was identified as Teresa Bowlin, a resident of Cathedral City.

​Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s office responded to the site of the hit-and-run and declared the victim dead at the scene. The other accused driver, who caused the accident, Tyler Conant, was nowhere to be found.​

After an extensive search, investigators located Conant, a resident of Long Island, in Los Angeles County. The 23-year-old was arrested without incident and taken into custody.

During the investigation and questioning of the suspect, the police deduced that Conant was under the influence of alcohol when he caused the hit and run. Considering his violations, the man was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for suspicion of murder and felony hit and run.​

​Following the fatal hit-and-run crash and growing concerns about road safety, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department released a statement summarizing the incident and the steps investigators had taken, including identifying and arresting the suspect.

​Sergeant Robert Wiggs mentioned in a news release, “Upon arrival, deputies located one of the drivers, later identified as Teresa Bowlin, a 57-year-old resident of Cathedral City, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputies learned that the other driver involved ran from the scene. Deputies searched the area and located the suspect, identified as Tyler Conant, a 23-year-old resident of Long Beach, who was taken into custody without incident.”

​Wiggs further requested the general public to step forth and share any relevant information that could prove helpful to the ongoing investigation.

​He added, “Palm Desert Station’s Collision Reconstruction Team responded and assumed the investigation. During the investigation, it was determined that Conant was under the influence of alcohol, and he was later booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for murder and felony hit-and-run. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Bret Meservey at (760) 836-1600 or Riverside County Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 836-3215.”

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department dealt with a similar hit-and-run case just a day before, on May 15. It involved a pedestrian being fatally struck on the southbound Interstate 215 near Blaine Street. The incident was reported to the police after the suspected driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck dialled 911 and revealed that they had hit something.

​When first responders arrived, they found the victim with severe injuries. Unfortunately, the person could not be saved and was pronounced dead on the scene. As the investigation unfolded, all southbound lanes of I-215 at Blaine Street were closed for about two hours.