San Jacinto man identified as victim of suspected hit-and-run in Palm Springs

A San Jacinto man was identified Saturday as the victim of a suspected hit-and-run in Palm Springs on Friday.

Jesse Fleury, 39, was killed around 7 a.m. after being struck by a vehicle that fled, according to Palm Springs Police and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Police were dispatched to the area of East Palm Canyon and South Broadmoor Drive after receiving calls of a man down. Officials said Fleury died at the scene.

Palm Springs police believe a red 2012-2016 Porsche Carrera was involved, and ask anyone with information to contact the PSPD Traffic Division at 760-323-8125 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 760-347-7867.

Devlynn Clark, Fleury's former wife, urged anyone who witnessed the fatal collision to contact authorities.

"Jesse was a wonderful person to be around," Clark said. "He was the life of the party and many people loved him. He was caring and compassionate and always wanted people to be happy."

That view of Fleury was also echoed by his mother, Sharon Mateo, who he had been living with at the time of his death.

"He was very kind-hearted and had a very gentle soul," she said. "He loved children, and will be very well missed by his family and his younger brother and a lot of friends he had in the desert area and in Iowa."

Mateo said she raised Fleury in Palm Desert and that he had recently come down to the desert from San Jacinto to try to meet up with old friends.

Clark and Fleury share two share two teenage children, and had a third child with his current girlfriend. She said she and her family, who live in Iowa, have been devastated by the news of his death.

Andrea Hanson, Clark's mother, described Fleury as a man who loved skateboarding and snowboarding, wanted to become a chef, and "loved his family and children."

Clark, Hanson and Mateo expressed anger at Fleury presumably being left without medical attention after the collision.

"This person left him alone and could have saved his life. But they were a coward and instead of doing what was right, they ran," Clark said. "I hope that they have a heart and will turn themselves in and understand the pain they have caused our kids."

"I couldn't do that to anyone even if they were my enemy," Mateo added. " I don't care if I went to jail, you have to be accountable for what you do to people... I can't fathom somebody doing that and then leaving him there to suffer and die, it's unbelievable."

Mateo said her younger son, Jeremy, is planning an online memorial event for her brother and trying to reach friends and family. Call 951-396-9751 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: San Jacinto man ID'd as victim of suspected hit-and-run in Palm Springs