School Mourns Three Students Killed In Rancho Mirage

Classes were canceled Tuesday at Marywood-Palm Valley School after three of the school’s students were killed Monday in a single car crash in Rancho Mirage.

The single vehicle accident happened at Morningside and Early Time Road just north of Country Club around 3:40 PM.

Police say a black Volkswagen Jetta was traveling southbound on Morningside at a high rate of speed before slamming into a tree.

The vehicle was drifting into a lane when the driver overcorrected the turn and lost control, Rancho Mirage Police reported.

The driver and two passengers in the car all died and all were not wearing a seatbelt, police said.

Authorities identified the driver as Tabitha Loftis of Palm Desert. The passengers were identified as Stephano Mazzotti and Stefan Snyder, both of Rancho Mirage. All were 17-years-old.

Investigators had to close down Morningside Drive until 10 PM Monday night. Police report no immediate evidence of alcohol or street racing.

Police say despite the crash, the stretch of road where it happened has not traditionally been a problem spot for drivers.

“It’s well maintained by the city of Rancho Mirage and it’s traveled by mostly local residents,” Lt. Jim Navarro of Rancho Mirage Police said.

Grief counselors were on the Marywood-Palm Valley campus Tuesday morning to talk with students and parents, said Bill Brantley, the school’s business manager.

“About 40 to 50 kids gathered this morning in the multi-purpose room and most took advantage of the counselors,” Brantley said.

Fall classes at the private, K-12 school at 35525 Da Vall Road in Rancho Mirage started three weeks ago. About 500 students attend the school.