Investigators from the California Highway Patrol Friday asked the public’s help to locate a vehicle of interest in a three-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 10 in Thousand Palms that killed a driver.
The deadly collision was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday near mile marker 49 west of Washington Street, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Rafael Espinosa, who told City News Service that two big rigs and a car were involved in the crash, which initially shut down all lanes.
The CHP Indio Area office was looking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident or have video recordings of the accident, Espinosa said. Investigators were also looking for the driver of a black Chevrolet Trailblazer with black wheels and silver trim who might have witnessed the accident.
Espinosa told CNS that on-site CHP staff “[couldn’t] even identify some of the vehicles, since they’re so smashed together.”
Another driver, who was behind the wheel of one of the trucks, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. An update on that person’s condition was not immediately available.
Anyone who witnessed the crash was urged to call CHP Officer G. Villalobos at 760-772-5300.