Fatal Traffic Collision in Palm Desert

Driving Under the Influence, Fatal Traffic Collision

PALM DESERT — A 34-year-old male pedestrian was killed following a traffic collision about  9:25 p.m. Monday, April 10, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Don Olson said.

The victim has been identified as Jaime Dodge of Palm Desert.

Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff Station responded to a call of a traffic collision at the intersection Highway 111 and Deep Canyon Drive in Palm Desert. Upon arrival, deputies found a pedestrian with major injures and began life-saving measures. The pedestrian was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center but succumbed to the injuries.

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian, fled the scene but was described as a silver Honda CRV. The Palm Desert Traffic Team assumed the investigation and later located the vehicle and driver in Beaumont. The driver, Christian Ruvalcaba, 21m of Palm Desert, showed signs of drug impairment and was subsequently arrested for felony hit and run, felony driving under the influence causing injury, and vehicular manslaughter.

Ruvalcaba was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending the notification to their family.

The traffic collision investigation required the temporary closure of all eastbound lanes of Highway 111 at Deep Canyon Drive. The roadway has been reopened.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Claro Sanchez of the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600. Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847). You can also leave anonymous information on wetip.com.