PALM SPRINGS: Domestic violence investigation leads to high-speed pursuit, crash

PALM SPRINGS – Details are still emerging after a short, high-speed pursuit ended in a two-car wreck Thursday, March 16. The collision forced the temporary closure of the intersection of North Sunrise Way and East Racquet Club Road in Palm Springs.

The crash happened about 5 p.m., after Palm Springs police officers responded to a private residence in the 1300 block of Francis Drive regarding reports of a domestic violence incident occurring at the home.

As officers were approaching the residence, a driver allegedly fled from responding officers. The driver, who has not been identified, led officers on a short, but high-speed pursuit.

During the chase the fleeing suspect reached speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour, according to a Palm Springs PD Watch Commander.

The pursuit ended about one minute after it started when the suspect’s vehicle smashed into another car, lost control, and then plowed into a traffic signal at the intersection. The traffic signal was sheared off at its base and destroyed. Vehicle parts and debris were left strewn across the entire intersection after the violent wreck.

The suspect’s vehicle, a red Dodge, sustained major damage in the high-speed crash. The other car, described as a silver Honda sustained moderate damage.

Officers arrived at the scene of the crash moments after it happened. They found a man and woman inside the vehicle that fled from them; however authorities could not confirm which person was driving the car.

At least one of the two occupants inside the fleeing vehicle sustained injuries in the crash and was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

It was not immediately known if anyone was injured in the other vehicle.

Officials shut down the the intersection while they investigated the crash and the wrecked vehicles were removed from the roadway.

City works employees responded to the scene to assess the damage to the traffic signal, which had to be replaced.

No further information was immediately available about the wreck.

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.