Crime & Safety
Coroner IDs 3 Killed In La Quinta Crash
Two motorcycles and a white Chevrolet pickup truck collided late Tuesday on Highway 111 west of Simon Drive. A pedestrian was also involved.
LA QUINTA, CA — Three people were killed and another person suffered "significant injuries" in a traffic crash in La Quinta, and an investigation into the accident was continuing Wednesday.
Deputies went to the intersection of Highway 111 and Simon Drive at about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
"When patrol deputies arrived, they located two motorcycles and a white Chevrolet pickup truck on Highway 111 west of Simon Drive," the sheriff's department said in a statement. "Additionally, four individuals with significant injuries were located. CalFire and AMR arrived and conducted life-saving measures, but three of the individuals were pronounced deceased by CalFire. One individual was transported to a local hospital with significant injuries."
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According to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau, the deceased were identified as Brandt Celli, a 26-year-old Indio man; Maria Reyes, 33, of La Quinta; and 47-year-old Katherine Vogts of Palm Desert.
"The preliminary investigation revealed the motorcycles were traveling eastbound on Highway 111 when one of the motorcycles struck a pedestrian who was crossing Highway 111," the sheriff's statement said.
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"The collision with the pedestrian caused the rider to be ejected, and the motorcycle came to rest in the westbound traffic lanes. As individuals were providing aid to the motorcycle rider, a white Chevy pickup traveling westbound on Highway 111 struck the motorcycle ..."
The collisions at the site resulted in fatal injuries to the motorcycle rider, the pedestrian, and one of the good Samaritans who stopped to assist, the sheriff's department reported.
The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, the sheriff's department reported.
"It is not believed that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision," the sheriff's statement said.
Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call Deputy K. Moore of the Thermal sheriff's station's La Quinta Traffic Team at 760-863-8990, or call anonymously at 760-341-STOP and reference incident #LA241350082.
