A 33-year-old bicyclist was fatally struck in Palm Desert early Tuesday by an on-duty Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputy, and the California Highway patrol was investigating the crash.
The bicyclist was identified by the Riverside County coroner’s office as Christopher Thomas of Palm Desert.
The deputy was not identified.
The collision occurred at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday near Country Club Drive and El Dorado Drive, according to Lt. Christopher Ternes of the sheriff’s department.
“The deputy was not operating his vehicle in an emergency response mode at the time of the collision,” Ternes wrote. “Deputies immediately rendered medical aid to the bicyclist until paramedics arrived.”
Ternes said Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics shortly after the accident. According to coroner’s officials, he was pronounced dead at 3:47 a.m. Tuesday.
CHP officers subsequently responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.