A man was in custody Monday for allegedly running a red light during a high-speed street race in Palm Springs months ago, slamming into another vehicle and seriously injuring its driver.
Steven Howlett, 28, of Palm Springs was arrested Saturday in connection with the noontime June 4 crash at the intersection of Ramon and Vella roads, just south of the Palm Springs International Airport.
Howlett is accused of racing another car at speeds of more than 60 mph along Ramon Road, then running a red light and broadsiding a Hyundai Elantra in the intersection, according to an arrest warrant declaration.
The Hyundai’s driver suffered fractures to his spine and internal bleeding, the declaration states.
Howlett allegedly told police that he was racing another driver at around 60 mph, though witnesses told officers that he was traveling at as much as 80 mph. The other driver was not identified in court documents, but the declaration did state that Howlett and a witness told police that person was driving a BMW.
Prosecutors charged Howlett late last month with felony counts of reckless driving causing injury and willfully and unlawfully engaging in a speed contest. He’s being held on $50,000 bail and is expected to appear in court sometime this week.
–City News Service