A Banning woman who was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed when she lost control and crashed head-on with another vehicle, resulting in fatal injuries, was identified Monday.
Shaundeen Boniface, 46, was fatally injured shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Seminole Drive east of Morongo Trail, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The agency said a 2020 Honda Pilot occupied by Boniface was traveling at about 60-70 mph on Seminole Drive approaching Morongo Trail when the driver attempted to pass a 2026 BMW 550E, but lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons and crashed into the “raised concrete island separating the eastbound and westbound lanes of Seminole Drive.”
The impact sent concrete debris flying into the left rear of the BMW causing minor damage to the vehicle. The Honda mounted the concrete island and entered the eastbound lane while the vehicle continued to travel west at a high rate of speed. The Honda subsequently crashed head-on with a 2023 Kia Telluride and the Honda “was pushed to the south an impacted a chain link fence,” the CHP said.
Boniface was pronounced dead at the scene.
The BMW driver did not sustain any injuries. The Kia driver, identified as Benny Begay, 55, of Tempe, Arizona, suffered moderate injuries and a passenger identified as Nicole Harrison, 53, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, sustained major injuries. Both individuals were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
The cause of the crash was under investigation.