The suspect struck a pedestrian working in the center median near Frank Sinatra Drive and Drexell Drive while the deputy collided with an uninvolved motorist
Palm Desert, CA – A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy and a pedestrian injured in a collision that began as a chase in Palm Desert on Wednesday morning, according to the authorities.
The accident was reported just after 8:30 a.m. January 14, near Frank Sinatra Drive and Drexell Drive.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident began in the area of Monterey Avenue and Frank Sinatra Drive when one of its Motor Unit was pursuing a suspect. It was unclear why the pursuit happened.
Shorty after, the suspect struck a pedestrian working in the center median near Frank Sinatra Drive and Drexell Drive while the deputy collided with an uninvolved motorist.
The deputy and the pedestrian were transported to a hospital for treatment and were said to be in stable condition.
The suspect involved in the chase was placed under arrest without incident.
No additional information on the crash were provided. The accident remained under investigation.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) crash rankings show a substantial number of motor vehicle collisions resulting in fatalities and injuries occur in Riverside County. In 2023, there were 15,177 total fatal and injury victims reported in the county, placing it 37th out of 58 California counties in OTS rankings. Alcohol-involved collisions accounted for 2,093 victims, while motorcycle crashes involved 929 victims and pedestrian incidents involved 608 victims. Speed-related and nighttime collisions also contributed notably, with 3,094 speed-related and 1,624 nighttime fatal and injury crashes. Hit-and-run collisions numbered 1,087 in this period. Comparing the numbers to prior years, 2022 saw similarly high counts of 15,151 total fatal and injury victims with over 3,145 speed-related and 1,610 nighttime collisions. Across the decade, Riverside County has averaged dozens of annual traffic deaths and thousands of injuries, with ongoing safety challenges tied to speeding, impaired driving, and vulnerable road user involvement.
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