A pedestrian is dead after being struck by a vehicle on North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs overnight, and the 54-year-old driver who hit him was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the road was shut down for hours while police investigated.
According to MyNewsLA, the crash was reported around 1:20 a.m. Saturday on North Indian Canyon Drive, just north of Sunrise Parkway, though the Desert Sun cited police accounts placing the collision at about 1:17 a.m. in the same stretch of roadway. Responding officers found an adult male pedestrian with significant injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to KESQ.
Investigators said the driver, a 54-year-old man, was traveling southbound on North Indian Canyon Drive when his vehicle struck the pedestrian. The station's report states the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with responding officers rather than fleeing.
DUI Arrest Follows Field Sobriety Testing
Officers conducted a standardized field sobriety test on the driver, and investigators said they developed probable cause to arrest him for driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury. Per the same account, he was arrested on suspicion of violating California Vehicle Code Section 23153(f).
Booking details diverge between outlets. KESQ reported the driver was transported to Riverside County Jail in Indio for booking, while MyNewsLA reported he was booked at John J. Benoit Detention Center. It is not clear from the available reporting whether those accounts refer to the same facility.
Roadway Reopens, Victim Still Unidentified
The collision prompted the closure of North Indian Canyon Drive between Sunrise Parkway and Garnet Avenue as investigators worked the scene; the roadway has since reopened to traffic, per KESQ's report. The pedestrian's identity has not been released pending confirmation by the coroner and notification of next of kin, the station noted.
Police said the cause and circumstances of the collision remain under investigation. No further details on the case have been released.
