A person was fatally shot along Highway 74 just east of Anza Tuesday, leading to an arrest and full closure of the highway, significantly disrupting travel.
The shooting was reported just after 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Highway 74 and Ribbonwood Drive, near the small community at the south boundary of the San Bernardino National Forest known as Ribbonwood, according to the California Highway Patrol and Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
CHP Officer Ricardo Palomar said officers were alerted to a crash, after which shots were fired.
Further investigation by officers and sheriff’s deputies revealed a tow truck driver and two motorists were involved in an unspecified confrontation that culminated in a chase through a road construction zone on Highway 74 near Palm Desert, Palomar said.
Gunfire erupted moments later.
“One of the individuals was struck by the gunfire,” the CHP spokesman said.
Officers and deputies converged on the area and took one man into custody, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Martinez.
The arrestee was not immediately identified.
The gunshot victim, whose name was not disclosed Tuesday night, was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he died a short time later, Palomar said.
Both sides of the two-lane highway, which serves as the southern passage connecting the Coachella and Anza valleys, were completely closed at the request of detectives. The CHP said the closure was being enforced between the junction of Highways 74 and 371 in Anza, all the way east to Palm Springs.
A SigAlert was issued at 3:23 p.m. due to the major impact on traffic. As of 8 p.m., it remained in effect.
The CHP said the highway may stay closed until the predawn hours Wednesday.