Two-vehicle Traffic Crash Leaves Others Injured

CATHEDRAL CITY — A 19-year-old Cathedral City man is dead and others injured following a two-vehicle traffic crash on April 8 at 9:07 p.m. at the intersection of 33rd Avenue and Cathedral Canyon Drive, according to Police Sgt. Jeffrey Barnett.

The Riverside County Coroner’s has identified him as Noah Garcia.

As of 4:47 a.m. today, Barnett said it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the traffic crash and there are no updates on the status of the passengers.

A vehicle, (Vehicle 1), was traveling at a high rate of speed northbound on Cathedral Canyon Drive and crashed into a vehicle (Vehicle 2) making a southbound left-hand turn from Cathedral Canyon Drive onto 33rd Avenue, according to Barnett. Vehicle 1 then continued traveling northbound and crashed into a mailbox, causing vehicle 1 to go into a sideway skid. Vehicle 1 continued traveling northbound in a sideways skid, and crashing into another mailbox, continuing in a northbound sideways skid into a driveway, crashing into two parked vehicles. Vehicle 1 traveled more than 1000 feet from the initial crash site at Cathedral Canyon Drive and 33rd Avenue. Two loaded, unregistered handguns were located inside vehicle 1 at the scene of the crash, according to Barnett.

Vehicle 1 had severe traffic crash damage. The 19-year-old male driver was transported to a local hospital with major injuries where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Vehicle 1 had four passengers: a juvenile male, a juvenile female, a 20-year-old female, and a 21-year-old female. Cathedral City Fire transported the four passengers to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It was last reported two of the females suffered fractures, and the remaining passengers’ injuries were minor.

Vehicle 2 had significant traffic crash damage, and the driver was not injured. The passenger of vehicle 2 was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

If you have information related to this incident or believe you may have information, please contact the Cathedral City Police Department at (760) 770-0300; or Traffic Investigator A. Felix at (760) 770-0343, afelix@cathedralcity.gov; or via the Cathedral City Police Department website at: cathedralcitypolice.com; or email tips@cathedralcity.gov. You may also report information anonymously through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers, by calling (760) 341-STOP; or through the WeTip hotline at: 1-(800)-78CRIME or WWW.WETIP.com. Some tip information may qualify for a cash reward.

Image Sources

  • Cathedral City Police Car: CCPD