3 hit & run crashes in Cathedral City in 1 week

Three hit and run crashes in just one week in one valley city. The latest happening Tuesday night when a driver struck a woman on Date Palm Drive near Olancha Road in Cathedral City and then drove off.

Then while the victim still lay on the ground, police say a second car ran her over, that driver did stop and waited for police to arrive on scene. The victim we’re told suffered broken bones and major facial injuries.

Gloria Dodson, owner of the Herb Cellar, near the crash site, was getting ready to close up her shop just after 7p.m., when she didn’t see anything, but heard a woman screaming. When she took a closer look, she saw people in the street.

“There were people stopping and trying to… the person was you know in the middle of Date Palm, towards this side, and I didn’t know what happened, but it looked pretty serious.” Dodson said. She immediately went back inside and called 911 and she says they were there within minutes.

Dodson says she couldn’t believe the first driver did not stop to help the woman.

“If you’re the one that hits them, you’re not showing any respect for their life,” she said.

Tuesday night’s hit and run comes just a week after two others in Cathedral City. They happened on the same night and within blocks of each other. One of the victims, a 51-year-old man died Friday from his injuries.

“I just wish people would be more careful,” Dodson said.

Cathedral City High School, Big League Dreams, and the Cathedral City Public Library are on Date Palm Drive, between Dinah Shore and Ortega Street near where the accident happened. Between the intersections there isn’t a crosswalk, and Dodson says she sees kids dangerously crossing the street all the time.

“They cross right here, when they can go to each/either corner and cross at the crosswalk. It really upsets me seeing them not use it, but they do this all the time,” Dodson says.

At Ilusion Creaciones, another business near where the accident happened, owner Ruth Verdusco is concerned it happened right before Halloween.

“We have a lot of kids, then it would be nice if they (drivers) take precautions when they are driving, slow a little bit for this night,” Verdusco said.

Police say the hit and run victim was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center and remains in critical condition. Investigators don’t have a suspect vehicle description, but are asking anyone with information to contact the Cathedral City Police Department at (760) 770-0303.

With Halloween happening Friday, police want parents and their children to stay safe while walking along streets and neighborhoods trick-or-treating. Parents should keep a close eye on children and make sure they stay in groups. Children should also bring flashlights or glow sticks to make sure drivers can see them in low lit areas. And children should not wear masks when trick-or-treating at night.