Elizabeth Ugarte Rios, a Vista resident, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today for hitting and critically injuring a 71-year-old cyclist while transporting undocumented immigrants.
Court documents outline the events leading to the incident on August 4, 2024. Rios, with her minor daughter in the vehicle, picked up a group of undocumented individuals in Otay Lakes County Park after they crossed the fence at the U.S.-Mexico border. The collision happened shortly afterward on Wueste Road in Chula Vista. The government reported that Rios was traveling at 67 mph, double the speed limit, when she crossed a double-yellow line to overtake another vehicle, with a Border Patrol agent tailing her in an unmarked car.
Rios slammed on the brakes four seconds before the collision, striking cyclist Robert Hilborn at an estimated 30 mph. Witnesses described Hilborn being propelled about 10 feet into the air before landing by the roadside. At Rios' sentencing, Hilborn was present with his family. His wife, Sharon Hilborn, provided statements detailing her husband's condition. He was hospitalized for 68 days, suffered multiple strokes, and needed a ventilator. His injuries included severe cuts to his head, neck, stomach, and legs, alongside other orthopedic damages. Sharon shared that cycling was a crucial part of his life, and now their routine is centered on medical care due to the accident. The emotional impact was evident as spectators wept while she addressed the court.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Chiang and investigated by the United States Border Patrol.