Investigators say they’re close to finding suspect in deadly Palm Springs collision

Palm Springs police are on the trail of a driver suspected of fatally striking a motorcyclist at an intersection and running away from the scene, a sergeant said today.

“Traffic investigators are tracking down leads and close to finding a suspect,” said Palm Springs police Sgt. Erik Larson.

Eric Strzelczyk, 29, of Bermuda Dunes, was killed in Sunday’s crash, a coroner said.

Officers were dispatched at 4:30 a.m. Sunday to East Palm Canyon Drive and El Camino Real, where they found the injured motorcyclist. Strzelczyk was pronounced dead at the scene, Palm Springs police Sgt. Kelly Fieux said.

The suspect vehicle, a Ford Ranger, had been westbound on East Palm Canyon Drive and turned left onto Camino Real. The truck plowed into the motorcycle, which had been heading east on East Palm Canyon Drive.

Witnesses said the driver jumped out of his vehicle and ran to the southeast from the intersection. He was described as a Latino wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red hat, Fieux said.

Anyone with information about the crash was urged to call the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 323-8115.