18-year-old woman ID’d after being hit & killed near Coachella Fest

An 18-year-old woman died Friday after she was hit by an SUV near the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio.

The Riverside County coroner’s office identified the victim as Michala Freeland of Highland.

Officers said the crash happened around 8:15 p.m. near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Monroe Street. Police said Freeland was crossing the road east of the intersection from the north side of the street when she was hit by a Jeep. She was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center where she later died.

Security officers tell us they were present at the crosswalk of Avenue 52 and Monroe at the time of the incident.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee stopped and is cooperating with police. He and his child were not hurt in the crash.

The victim’s family told News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2 Freeland was attending the festival Friday night. Drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash.

We’ll have more information on this developing story on-air and online.