Oregon man arrested for DUI/murder after Palm Springs five-vehicle wreck kills one, injures six
PALM SPRINGS, Calif., — Authorities say an Oregon man was arrested for murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, and DUI, after a five-vehicle, chain-reaction collision in Palm Springs that left one man dead and six other victims injured early Monday evening, Dec. 27.
The fatal accident occurred at the intersection of N. Palm Canyon Drive and Alejo Road and forced the hours-long closure of the intersection while officials worked at the scene.
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City of Palm Springs police and fire personnel were dispatched to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a major injury accident involving five vehicles, Palm Springs PD has since said of the deadly crash and subsequent arrest.
Responding officials found five wrecked vehicles, with vehicle parts and debris scattered throughout the roadway.
Officials say one person was killed and six others were injured in a five-vehicle, chain-reaction crash they allege was caused by a drunk driver. Desert Sun / Andy Abeyta photos
Paramedics immediately began evaluating and treating those injured in the collision, including the driver of a Tesla who was found to have sustained major traumatic injuries when his vehicle was struck from behind by a Dodge Ram conversion van.
He was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs where, despite further life-saving efforts, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has since identified Leon Reynoso, 36, of Chula Vista, as the man killed in the collision. A Coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced deceased at 5:33 p.m.
During their subsequent investigation, officers interviewed numerous victims and witnesses, including some of whom reported that the driver who caused the collision, Andrew Watson Hibbard, 41, from Portland, Oregon, had been driving at “excessive speeds” before colliding into the rear of the Tesla.
Their preliminary investigation also revealed that Hibbard had been traveling southbound on N. Palm Canyon Drive in the number one lane before plowing into the rear of the Tesla, which had been stopped behind three other vehicles for a red traffic signal at the intersection.
“The impact from Hibbard’s vehicle forced the Tesla into another vehicle causing a chain reaction of collisions,” officials have since explained; saying, “In all, five vehicles were involved.”
In addition to the victim killed in the collision, six other people were injured, including four who were ultimately transported to area hospitals for further treatment.
Palm Springs PD released the first image after the deadly collision that depicts the direction of travel of Hibbard’s van and the subsequent impact to the involved vehicles. Also pictured is Oregon resident Andrew Hibbard, who officials say caused this collision and was subsequently arrested. Palm Springs PD image and photo
Based on their investigation, officers arrested Hibbard, who was not seriously injured in the collision. He was later booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of murder, DUI/gross vehicular manslaughter, and DUI resulting in great bodily injuries.
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Dec. 30.
Palm Springs PD’s investigation is active and ongoing and anyone with further information regarding this accident is encouraged to contact the department at (760) 323-8116. Callers can refer to incident file 2112P-5677 can remain anonymous.
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.