Passenger killed in suspected Palm Springs DUI crash identified

The California Highway Patrol arrested a 29-year-old man from Cathedral City on suspicion of DUI early Tuesday morning after a two-car crash in Palm Springs.

The Riverside County Coroner identified the passenger who died as James Brown, 23, of Joshua Tree.

According to Officer Mike Radford, Austin Ulshafer was driving a GMC pickup truck eastbound on Ramon Road at about 2 a.m. when he struck a Ford Crown Victoria within the intersection of Gene Autry Trail. Both vehicles sustained major damage in the collision.

Brown, the 23-year-old passenger in the Ford, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center with major injuries where he was pronounced dead later Tuesday morning.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries in the crash and they were also taken to the hospital.

Ulshafer was arrested afterward and was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the CHP.

Motorists were urged to avoid the intersection of Ramon Road and Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs Tuesday morning until eastbound Ramon Road was reopened at about 5 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing. Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 News for new information.