Victim identified in fatal South Lake Tahoe hit-and-run

Submitted by paula on Sat, 06/30/2018 - 4:35pm
Suspect arrested and facing several charges

Trevor M. Bright has been identified as the victim in Tuesday night's hit-and-run vehicle vs. bicycle crash in South Lake Tahoe.

The 33-year-old South Lake Tahoe resident was riding towards home after work on June 26, 2018 when he crossed all lanes of US50 at an unknown time but the California Highway Patrol estimated he died between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. Their investigation concludes that the driver was in the #2 lane, or slow lane, and struck Bright from the side between the Grocery Outlet and Upper Truckee Bridge. He was ejected from his mountain bike and landed in the dirt off the roadway where he remained until being found just before 6:00 a.m. Wednesday by a Caltrans contractor.

A memorial in Bright's memory has been set up on the side of the highway where his body was found.

The driver of the vehicle that struck Bright turned him into authorities on Friday, June 29 at 5:00 p.m.

South Tahoe Now broke the story Friday night about 33-year-old Joseph Matthew Chesler turning himself in at the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Since it was a CHP case, Officer Polly went to the station to contact Chesler.

At approximately 5:44 p.m., Chesler was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run related to the fatal crash. He was transported to the California Highway Patrol, South Lake Tahoe office and interviewed. Mr. Chesler was booked at the El Dorado County Jail at approximately 10:38 p.m. hours. His bail was set at $125,000 Friday night and updated with new charges and was up to $250,000. Chesler is no longer in the jail.

The suspect is facing charges of Hit and Run Causing Injury/Death, Vehicular Manslaughter and Involuntary Manslaughter.

A sport utility vehicle was located and impounded for evidence in relation to the collision. It matched the vehicle's description that had been released to the public earlier in the day Friday. It was a member of the public who connected the crime and suspect, leading to Chesler's turning himself in.

"South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County District Attorney's office and the public contributed to the investigation of this collision," said CHP Officer Mike Brown.