The Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) investigated a Feb. 1 car accident at Tahquitz Canyon and Sunrise Way that left a local woman hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the vehicle, 59 year-old Mark Blanchette of Palm Springs, was contacted at the scene and "displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence," a PSPD news release posted on Facebook said. He was charged on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and booked into the Indio jail.
Officers responded to the intersection for a pedestrian struck by a car, the Facebook post said. Upon arrival, the officers found an unresponsive woman in the roadway, who was identified as a 57-year-old Palm Springs resident. She was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and in critical condition, where she remained at the time of the Facebook announcement. Police have not released her name to the community.
The cause of the accident, which happened just before 8:30 p.m., is still under investigation. Residents who may have witnessed the accident or those with additional information are encouraged to contact the PSPD Traffic Division at 760-323-8125. Alternatively, anonymous information can be reported to Crime Stoppers at 760-347-7867.