Pedestrian death at Rancho Mirage intersection raising questions about road safety

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) - After a 62-year-old woman was hit and killed earlier this week at Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive, some residents are raising concerns about the intersection's safety.

News Channel 3 dug deeper into the story and found a string of recent deaths and major injury accidents at the roadway.

On January 1, 2025, a 76-year-old cyclist was hit and killed by a car. The Riverside Sheriff's Office say there was also a major injury traffic collision involving a pedestrian last year. Officials say 2023 saw a fatal crash, along with a 2022 major injury crash. In 2019, a 26-year-old Indio man was also killed while crossing the road.

Rancho Mirage doesn't have a CV Link pathway through the city, meaning cyclists have to use Highway 111 and jump back on the route in Palm Desert. With only 2 out of the 4 crosswalks paved and no bike lanes through the intersection, News Channel 3 reached out to Rancho Mirage officials for more information.

Residents in the area agree fast cars and a lot of pedestrians can make conditions scary.

"It's part of just, you know, the road traffic, a lot of traffic. People definitely do drive fast down this road, and, I think a lot of tourists who aren't familiar with the area," Eddie Franz Jr., of Rancho Mirage said.

City officials told News Channel in a statement that investigators often found pedestrians to be at fault in certain situations.

"In the 2019 incident, the pedestrian was walking in the roadway outside of the marked crosswalk and was determined to be at fault. In last year’s collision involving a bicyclist, investigators found that the cyclist entered the intersection against a red light. The driver was not cited. In the most recent incident, the pedestrian was crossing Highway 111 east of the marked crosswalk in an area where signage clearly prohibits crossing. That investigation remains ongoing."

Officials went on to say,

"Highway 111 is a major arterial roadway, and the City continues to strongly encourage all pedestrians and cyclists to use the designated crosswalks and traffic control features provided, and to exercise caution when crossing. While these incidents are tragic, the findings to date do not indicate a pattern related to roadway design or traffic operations at this intersection that would warrant changes to traffic patterns at this time.

We continuously monitor traffic data and safety trends along Highway 111, and if conditions indicate a need for additional measures, we would evaluate those accordingly."

Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on the road's safety.