Police say man was drunk when crash happened
A 21-year old Palm Desert man is behind bars on suspicion of drunken driving in a crash that killed a 24-year old woman near Mountain Center.
Police say Troy Mathiot was driving eastbound on Highway 74 around 2:00 a.m. Friday near Pinyon Drive when he lost control of the vehicle, left the road and crashed down a steep hillside.
Anna Hicks of Palm Desert who wasn’t wearing a seat belt was ejected from the car and died at the scene.
A 24-year old passenger who hasn’t been identified was wearing a seat belt and suffered moderate injuries.
Mathiot was also wearing his seat belt.
The investigation continues.
