Man faces DUI charges after Sunday accident in Palm Springs

A felony DUI charge was filed today against a 23-year-old Palm Springs man who allegedly got into a crash while driving impaired, leaving a woman with major injuries.

Obed Rojas Lopez, who also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of causing great bodily injury, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. He is due back in court June 29 for a felony settlement conference.

The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Ramon Road and Sunrise Way, Palm Springs police Sgt. William Hutchinson said.

A Honda Civic collided with a Toyota Corolla, whose driver was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center, where she remained hospitalized today in “guarded” condition, Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said.

“Witnesses told officers that the black Honda Civic was seen driving recklessly and at high speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour just prior to the collision,” Hutchinson said.

Lopez was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries suffered in the crash before being arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, with bail set at $50,000.

Police withheld the name and age of the Corolla’s driver.