Traffic collision shuts down I-10 near Desert Center

DESERT CENTER, Calif. — A traffic collision on Interstate 10 near Desert Center sent one person to the hospital with critical injuries Friday afternoon after a vehicle caught fire and blocked all lanes of the freeway.

Cal Fire firefighters were dispatched at approximately 12:58 p.m. to westbound Interstate 10, east of the Red Cloud Road off-ramp. The crash involved a vehicle that caught fire, creating a complete blockage of the freeway.

Firefighters contained the vehicle fire at approximately 1:22 p.m.

TRAFFIC COLLISION - Rpt @ 12:58 p.m. Interstate 10 West / East of Red Cloud Road off-ramp in Desert Center. Firefighters are on-scene of a traffic collision with a vehicle on fire and is blocking all lanes. The fire was contained at 1:22 p.m. One patient sustained critical… pic.twitter.com/txPTYYLUWT

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 14, 2026

One patient sustained critical injuries and was transported by helicopter to a local hospital for further treatment. No other injuries were reported.

The incident occurred near Red Cloud Road, Exit 182, along I-10 in the Desert Center area.

Motorists traveling through the area should expect significant delays and use caution while emergency crews work at the scene. Additional details about the cause of the collision were not immediately available.