Newport police arrest hit-and-run suspect

A Costa Mesa man suspected of a hit-and-run collision that sent a motorcyclist to the hospital with serious injuries was arrested Wednesday morning by Newport Beach police.

Police arrested Gabriel Aguirre Reyes, 31, at the intersection of 19th Street and Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa. Investigators had telephoned him earlier that morning and he agreed to meet with them, police said.

At 4:24 p.m. Tuesday, police received a call that a motorcyclist had been struck by a maroon 1991 Toyota 4Runner at the intersection of Placentia and Superior avenues and the driver who hit him had sped off, police said.

Reyes allegedly ran a red light before striking Gerardo Oliveras, 35, of Riverside, who was heading through a green light, witnesses told police. Oliveras was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and is listed in critical but stable condition.

Reyes allegedly fled the crash scene and abandoned the vehicle soon after in a commercial parking lot in the 1700 block Placentia Avenue.

Police impounded the 4Runner as evidence. Reyes was arrested on suspicion of committing an injury hit-and-run and booked in the Newport Beach Jail on $50,000 bail, authorities said.

— Kelly Strodl