The Riverside County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate a Palm Desert accident that took the life of a pedestrian by a suspected drug-impaired driver now in custody on felony charges, according to a news release.
Sgt. Don Olson of the Sheriff's Department did not identify the victim of the April 10 accident, pending notification of family members, but the driver of a silver Honda CRV responsible for this death was named as 21-year-old Christian Ruvalcaba of Palm Desert.
Although he reportedly fled the intersection of Deep Canyon Drive and Highway 111 where the crash occurred, Ruvalcaba later was apprehended by the Palm Desert Traffic Team, according to Olson's release.
On April 10 at approximately 9:25 p.m., Palm Desert station deputies recieved a report of a traffic collision at the intersection and responded. According to the release, "Upon arrival, deputies found a pedestrian with major injuries and began lifesaving measures. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to the injuries."
The silver Honda described as the vehicle involved turned up with the driver in the City of Beaumont and was located through the efforts of the Palm Desert Traffic Team, which had assumed the investigation, Olson said.
According to the release, the driver exhibited signs of drug impairment, which resulted in his arrest on charges of felony hit and run, felony driving under the influence causing injury as well as vehicular manslaughter. Consequently, Ruvalcaba was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center based in Indio.
In the aftermath of the fatal accident, the traffic collision team shut down all eastbound lanes of Highway 111 at Deep Canyon Drive for a period of time and then reopened the roadway.
The public can help further this ongoing investigation by coming forth with any information that might assist investigators. Those with details that might assist law enforcement are urged to call Deputy Claro Sanchez of the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600. For those who prefer to be anonymous, information can be shared with Valley Crime Stoppers at 800-782-7463 or 800-473-7847. Yet another option for anonymous information is making an online report through wetip.com.