Driver Charged After Hitting And Injuring Teenager And Toddler

A 23-year-old motorist who allegedly struck and critically injured a teenager and a toddler while under the influence of drugs in Cathedral City pleaded not guilty today to criminal charges.

Cesar Adrian Munoz of Cathedral City faces felony charges of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and reckless driving causing injury and a misdemeanor count of being an unlicensed operator of a vehicle.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Thomas Douglass set bail at $150,000 and ordered Munoz to return to court on April 26 for a felony settlement conference.

He was arrested around 7 p.m. Sunday at the scene of the crash in the 69400 block of El Canto Road, near Santoro Drive, said Sgt. Corwin de Veas of the Cathedral City Police Department.

Police believe he was driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs, according to de Veas.

Munoz, along with a juvenile driver of a second vehicle, were allegedly driving recklessly on El Canto Road before the crash, de Veas said.

The pedestrians — a 17-year-old girl and a 2-year-old child — were struck by Munoz’s vehicle while he was driving in reverse, according to de Veas. He said the victims were found on the sidewalk and driveway of a home.

Family members of the victims detained Munoz at the scene after he reportedly tried to flee, the sergeant said.

The teenager and the toddler were taken to a hospital in critical condition, but a condition update was not immediately available this afternoon.

The second driver was being sought for questioning, but investigators did not release a description.