One dead, another hurt in Thousand Palms crash
One person is dead and another was hurt in a crash on eastbound I-10, just east of Monterey Avenue in Thousand Palms early Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire.
The crash happened at about 5:40 a.m.
A 53 year old man from Indio was driving a 2003 Toyota Tundra with a 25 year old male passenger, also from Indio, according to the California Highway Patrol.
While traveling in the center lane of I-10, the driver abruptly turned to the right and lost control. The Toyota went off the roadway and overturned.
CHP said the 25 year old passenger was ejected from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene. He wasn’t wearing a seat belt. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office hasn’t released the man’s identity yet.
The driver sustained major injuries in the crash and was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. Emergency responders had to use the Jaws of Life to get him out of the truck safely.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. CHP officers said they don’t believe alcohol or drugs were factors.
CHP stressed the importance of wearing a seat belt whenever you’re on the road. Officers said 50% of people who die in traffic collisions in California were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
