Coroner ID’s victims of last week’s deadly crash on Gene Autry Trail

The Riverside County Coroner’s Office has named the victims in last week’s deadly crash on Gene Autry Trail during a sand and wind storm.

The Coroner’s office says 70-year old Mercedes Sison and 73-year old Esmenio Sison, from Desert Hot Springs, died on scene of the Tuesday night crash. The accident happened just after 6:00 p.m. Police say the driver of an SUV was driving southbound on Gene Autry Trail when he struck a car the victims were riding in. The car caught fire and both were killed on scene. The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital that night.

Palm Springs Police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident, but many drivers said that the wind was blowing strongly, stirring up sand and making hard for drivers to see.

Palm Springs Police said that they did not believe drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash. Gene Autry Trail was shut down between Via Escuela Drive and the Freeway until after noon the following day.