Indio teen’s death spurs suicide prevention discussion
The coroner’s office has identified the teenage girl who was struck by several vehicles on eastbound I-10 at the Jackson Street Interchange Wednesday night.
The coroner said the victim was 15-year-old Elizabeth Castro León.
KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2’s Lauren Coronado talked to a woman representing the victim’s family Thursday afternoon, and she said, while the investigation is ongoing, the victim’s family believes it may have been suicide.
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Her death has now spurred a discussion regarding suicide prevention.
View resources for suicide prevention
Anonymous texting with a mental health profession from Safehouse of the Desert
The incident happened just after 5:30 p.m. at the Jackson Street Interchange. Authorities said León was struck by several vehicles on the freeway and pronounced dead at the scene. The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident.
A CHP incident log indicated that Indio police received a call about a girl on the Jackson Street bridge overlooking the freeway just before it happened.
Eastbound freeway traffic, which was backed up for several miles, was being forced off the interstate at Jackson Street and then diverted back onto the freeway at the Jackson Street on-ramp.
All lanes of the interstate were reopened at approximately 10:15 p.m., according to CHP Officer Mike Radford.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Indio CHP Office at (760) 772-8911 and ask for Officer Armendariz.
