Police ID teen killed in Coachella accident

The coroner’s office today released the name of a 16-year-old Coachella boy who died in a rollover crash suspected of being alcohol-related.

Francisco Lopez was ejected from the vehicle in the crash, whichoccurred at 12:09 a.m. Sunday in the 86000 block of Industrial Way inCoachella, according to Riverside County coroner’s officials.

Someone took the teenage motorist to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospitalbefore authorities arrived on scene to find the wrecked vehicle, sheriff’sofficials said. Lopez died at the hospital about an hour after the crash wasreported.

The coroner’s office reported that Lopez was not wearing a seatbelt whenhe lost control of his vehicle, which flipped over several times.

Alcohol appeared to have played a role, but Riverside County sheriff’sSgt. Jeronimo Contreras said the crash remains under investigation.

No one else was traveling with Lopez at the time of the crash,investigators said.