Woman who caused Ave 42 crash had alcohol, drugs in her system

A crash at the intersection of Avenue 42 and Adams Street affected traffic in Bermuda Dunes Wednesday afternoon and sent three people to the hospital.

The crash was reported around 3:10 p.m. and the California Highway Patrol shut down Avenue 42 in both directions for nearly two hours.

Four vehicles were involved in the crash.

According to a release from CHP Officer Mike Radford, 49-year-old Kelly Hersha from Palm Desert was driving a Ford F-250 and towing a flatbed trailer eastbound in the right lane of Avenue 42 when she rear ended a Hyundai XL350 that was slowing for the stop sign at Adams Street.

The collision caused major damage to the Hyundai and pushed the car over the raised concrete curb on the south side of the road and into a street sign.

Officials said the F-250 continued eastbound after the initial impact and then rear-ended a Ford transit box van that was stopped at the stop sign at Adams Street. The box van was heavily damaged and a tank ruptured inside of it as well.

Radford said Hersha once again continued driving eastbound before crashing into a Toyota Sienna van, which was facing eastbound in the left lane of the same intersection. The Toyota only sustained minor damage.

After striking the third vehicle, the F-250 continued southeast when it went over a raised, concrete curb on the north side of the road and crashed into a block wall next to an apartment complex, east of Adams Street.

Radford said Hersha was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. The woman driving the Hyundai and the man driving the box van were both taken to JFK Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries as well.

CHP said alcohol and drugs consumed by Hersha, coupled with her unsafe speed, appeared to be factors in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

CHP asks any witnesses with information about the incident to call the Indio Area Office at 760-772-8911.