The California Highway Patrol is seeking information about a solo vehicle crash in Whitewater that killed a 28-year-old man.
The fatality occurred at 2:20 a.m. March 12 on eastbound I-10 just west of Highway 62, where the driver of a compact sedan lost control of the vehicle while allegedly drunk at the wheel, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Jonathan Torres told City News Service that 25-year-old John Hernandez of Thousand Palms was driving his 2024 Honda Civic at an unconfirmed speed when he allowed the car to drift right and go out of control, causing it to roll at least once. No other vehicles were involved.
Riverside County Fire Department crews reached the location a short time later and pronounced the passenger dead at the scene. He was identified Thursday evening as Cathedral City resident Christopher Rodriguez in a Riverside County coroner’s report.
Torres said that investigating officers soon determined Hernandez was under the influence. Hernandez was taken to a regional trauma center for treatment of unspecified injuries and was formally arrested on suspicion of DUI gross vehicular manslaughter.
Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the CHP’s San Gorgonio office at 951-846-5300.