Deadly traffic collision claims at least one life

COACHELLA — At least one man is dead following a traffic collision shortly after 8 p.m. on June 6 at the intersection of Avenue 51 and Chiapas Street.

The driver of one of the involved vehicles, Antonio Tellez Leon, 38, of Coachella, showed signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, violation of probation, felony driving under the influence causing injury, and murder. Leon was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

At 8:14 pm, deputies assigned to the Thermal Station responded to a major injury traffic collision in this city. Upon their arrival, deputies found two occupants of one vehicle with major injures and began life-saving measures; the driver of the second vehicle was uninjured, according to a news release. One of the injured parties succumbed to his injuries at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital for additional medical treatment.

The decedent was identified by the Riverside County coroner’s office as 21-year-old Jacob Snellings of Coachella.

The Coachella Community Action Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

The deadly traffic collision investigation required the temporary closure of all east and westbound lanes of Avenue 51 between Frederick Street and Van Buren Street. The roadway has been reopened.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Esteban Molina of the Thermal Station at 760-863-8990. 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.