Two deadly crashes in one day of holiday travel

Two deadly crashes on Friday show just how dangerous the roads can be this holiday season.

The first crash happened just after 7 a.m. on Country Club Drive, north of Avenue 42.

The victim was identified by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office as 60-year-old Sotero Diaz of Desert Hot Springs.

Diaz was driving a Honda sedan eastbound and crossed the median, colliding with a gardening truck that was traveling westbound, said Sgt. Dan Marshall with the Indio Police Department.

Diaz died at the scene, and his passenger was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, Marshall said. The truck was carrying three people but none of them were seriously injured in the crash.

The crash is under investigation. Country Club Drive between Adams Street and Avenue 42 was closed all morning during the investigation.

The second deadly crash happened around 2 p.m. Initial information from the California Highway Patrol indicates the crash involved a green Chevrolet SUV and a white Chevrolet Astro Van.

One woman was killed in a crash at Grapefruit Boulevard and Airport Boulevard in Thermal Friday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.

Two other people were taken to the hospital with major injuries.

Alcohol is believed to be involved in this crash.

“Anytime around the holidays definitely don’t drink and drive,” says Sgt. Robert McLoud with California Highway Patrol. “Designate a driver be safe out there. Traffic is much greater around the holidays with the amount of people on the highway and you just need to exercise extra caution,” says McLoud.