Man arrested in Palm Desert after crashing into pole, fleeing on foot

An Indio man was arrested on DUI charges early Thursday morning after crashing his car into a pole in Palm Desert County Club and attempting to flee the scene on foot.

At around 6 a.m., 20-year-old Darrell McClendon Jr crashed a tan Toyota Corolla into a power pole as he attempted, and failed, to make a left-hand turn from Minnesota Ave onto Kansas St. McClendon and four passengers fled the scene on foot.

Officers responded to the crash and searched the area. They located McClendon on the nearby golf course and later arrested him for driving under the influence of alcohol, hit and run, and child endangerment.

Two of the passengers, both minors, were also found in the area.Police failed to locate the remaining two passengers, who are said to be “still outstanding,” according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

No injuries were reported.

The power pole did not appear to have been damaged, but Southern California Edison responded to check the structural integrity of the pole.