RIVERSIDE - A Moreno Valley man accused of running over a road worker while driving drunk was charged today with hit-and-run resulting in injuries and other felonies.

Enrique Lopez Lopez, 30, allegedly struck a 37-year-old Caltrans contract employee at the 14th Street exit from the Riverside (91) Freeway in Riverside Monday night.

Along with felony hit-and-run, Lopez is charged with driving under the influence and DUI causing great bodily injury. The defendant, who's being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, is slated to make his initial court appearance this afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Advertisement

[ Murrieta Volkswagen ] around 9:30 p.m. Monday, Lopez was headed west on the freeway in his 1996 Honda Accord when he allegedly allowed the compact to drift out of its lane and into the gore point, where the victim was setting up a lane closure message sign.

The Honda struck him, but Lopez didn't stop, CHP Officer Steve Carapia said.

He said officers gave chase and located the alleged intoxicated driver on Central Avenue, just north of the 91, a short time later.

The victim, identified only as an Azusa man, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Riverside Community Hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga.