Felony charges filed against man in fatal DUI crash that killed his passenger

Felony charges were filed today against a Desert Hot Springs man accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed his passenger in Palm Springs.

Joshua Lamar Woods, 30, is facing charges of DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and other felony
charges. He remains in custody at the Smith Correctional Facility on $125,000 bail.

Woods was allegedly behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck a steel pole on Indian Canyon Drive near Garnet Avenue about 1:20 a.m. Monday, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

His passenger, identified as Laprea Hardister, 30, of Desert Hot Springs was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was unclear if Woods suffered any injuries in the crash.

Along with DUI gross vehicular manslaughter, Woods is charged with DUI causing great bodily injury and DUI with a blood-alcohol content exceeding the legal limit of .08% causing bodily injury.

Woods, who's being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Woods has a felony conviction in Riverside County for assault on a person causing great bodily injury.