Driver Crashes into Tour de Palm Springs Cyclists on Dillon Road near 30th Street in Indio Hills
PALM SPRINGS, CA (February 10, 2018) – One person was killed and another was injured after a man crashed his car into a group of cyclists participating in the Tour de Palm Springs on Saturday morning.
According to the California Highway Patrol, authorities were alerted at 9:25 AM about a crash on Dillon Road near 30th Street in Indio Hills.
Initial reports suggest the suspect, 21-year-old Ronnie Ramon Huerta Jr. of Desert Hot Springs, was driving a 2006 Ford 500 sedan eastbound at about 100 mph when he lost control and began swerving across the road. The car struck two bicyclists before hitting a berm and rolling over.
Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman, Jody Hagemann, identified the deceased victim as 34-year-old Mark Kristofferson of Lake Stevens, Washington. He was pronounced dead at the scene, about half an hour after the collision. Another cyclist, 50-year-old Alyson Lee Akers of Huntington Beach, sustained a laceration to the head and was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs in critical condition.
Huerta was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and was booked into the Indio Jail. Records show that he was also driving with a suspended license. Huerta also received medical treatment at Desert Regional for moderate injuries before being arrested. As of Sunday, he remained jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail.
Authorities continue investigation and are yet to confirm if Huerta was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the fatal collision.
We at Sweet Law Group offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mark Kristofferson.
Suddenly losing someone you care about is devastating, especially if they suffered an unjust death. If you have a loved one who was wrongfully killed in a road accident, reach out to the expert attorneys at Sweet Law Group. Sweet Law Group has over 40 years of experience in the legal field, and will fight to achieve the justice and compensation that you and your family deserve. Our attorneys and professional legal team have dealt with cases including car accidents, wrongful death, personal injury, and disability. Call us now at (800) 203-3061 for a free consultation, and discuss your case with a professional near you.
