Second Indio hit and run in days leaves third victim critically injured
INDIO, Calif., — A driver was critically injured in a head-on, hit and run collision in Indio early this morning, Wednesday, July 21. The victim remains hospitalized since the crash, which occurred on Avenue 48 near Jackson Street, according to reports.
This morning’s hit and run was the second such incident to occur in Indio in the last five days, after another hit and run that occurred late Friday night, July 16. In that incident two people who were changing a flat tire were critically injured when they were struck by a pickup truck whose driver abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Although officials have since named that vehicle’s registered owner as a person of interest, he has not yet been located or apprehended.
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City of Indio police and fire personnel, who were alerted to the crash around 2 a.m., found a critically injured victim inside one of two wrecked vehicles that had collided within the intersection. The victim was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment of what KESQ has since described as serious injuries.
Reports indicate a driver was critically injured in an Indio hit and run early this morning. KESQ News Channel 3 photo
Officials were observed at the scene documenting and collecting evidence, while having two vehicles towed from the location. Photographs from the scene indicated the vehicles were a white Chevy Malibu and silver Ford pick-up truck with AquaBella Clear Pools business markings on it.
Police are continuing to search for one of the drivers who reportedly fled the scene, but have not specified which vehicle the hit and run suspect was driving when the collision occurred.
Calls to AquaBella for information about the condition of their driver went unanswered as of this report.
SEE RELATED: UPDATE: Search for Indio hit and run driver who critically injured pair changing flat tire ongoing
Indio PD’s investigation is continuing and officials have asked that anyone with information related to their investigation or who knows the identity and/or whereabouts of the driver who fled the scene to contact Indio Police Officer Custic at (760) 391-4051 or by email or 760-341-STOP. Callers can refer to incident file number 2017I-2597 and can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.