Authorities Monday were investigating what led a driver to veer off Interstate 10 in Desert Center, killing her and injuring three of her passengers when her car overturned off the freeway.
The crash was reported just before 11 a.m. Saturday on eastbound Interstate 10 west of Desert Center, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jackie Quintero.
Rachel Lopez, 40, of Moreno Valley, suffered major injuries after her 2003 Prius went off the left side of the freeway and overturned in the open dirt center median, Quintero said. She was airlifted to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio, where she died about two hours later, according to the county coroner’s office.
Her three passengers — a 48-year-old man, a 15-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy — were also taken to the hospital with moderate and minor injuries.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, but Quintero said alcohol and drugs did not appear to be contributing factors in the crash. All four of the Prius’ occupants were wearing their seatbelts, Quintero said.
Traffic along Interstate 10 was shut down for about half an hour to allow a helicopter to land on the freeway and fly Lopez to the hospital.