One killed, 1 arrested in Palm Desert two-vehicle DUI crash
PALM DESERT – A Palm Desert resident was killed in a two vehicle traffic collision at Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive, Palm Desert Saturday Sept. 3. Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Palm Desert Police Station responded to the reported accident at 10:07 p.m.
The accident involved a silver Ford Expedition and a white Ford Mustang, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Chris Willison.
When deputies and other emergency first responders arrived at the accident scene paramedics determined the adult male passenger of the Mustang, a resident of Palm Desert, had already succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has not been identified pending notification of their family.
Paramedics treated the driver of the Ford Mustang, a resident of Palm Desert, before they transported the victim to a local area hospital as a precautionary measure.
The driver and sole occupant of the Ford Expedition was not injured. He was identified as Pedro Leon Castellanos, 27, of Thousand Palms. Castellanos showed the signs and symptoms of being under the influence and he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
“Castellanos was taken to a local area hospital as a precaution before he was booked at the county jail in Indio,” Willison explained in a press release about the accident and arrest.
The deputies’ investigation revealed the Expedition was traveling northbound on Monterey Avenue when it collided with a Mustang in the intersection of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive.
The intersection of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive was temporarily closed to through traffic while deputies conducted their investigation.
A jail record search revealed Castellanos was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing great bodily injury. He was released about six hours later when he posted $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to be seen at the Indio Larsen Justice Center Oct. 31.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Officer Whitley at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600, or they can call (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number T162470105 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
The man killed was my brother-in-law. He was on his way home from his wedding anniversary dinner. I and the rest of the family are understandably devastated. Castellanos, the drunk/drugged driver of the massive SUV that plowed into the Mustang, got off without a scratch, as so very often happens… where is the justice in this? Think, people, before climbing behind the wheel of a vehicle after you’ve been partying hard. Castellanos certainly did not… and someone else had to pay for it with his irreplaceable life. The rest of us in the victim’s family get to suffer for the rest of our lives. 🙁
I am so very sorry. You have my deepest condolences.
-TM