Palm Desert Resident Suspected Of Fatally Running Down Man

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — A 30-year-old Palm Desert motorist accused of intentionally running down a man in Thousand Palms over the weekend and then fleeing the scene remained jailed Monday.

Erik Robert Cowdery was booked into Indio's John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of murder. He is accused of fatally striking the victim — 48-year-old Desert Hot Springs resident Robert Ernest Rodriguez — around 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Varner and Ramon roads, according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

California Highway Patrol officers determined the victim was struck intentionally, and turned the investigation over to sheriff's deputies, sheriff's officials said.

KESQ reported that Rodriguez was riding a motorcycle when he was struck, and bystanders restrained Cowdery, who attempted to flee the scene.

The was no information on a possible motive behind the alleged violence. Cowdery's only criminal history in Riverside County is a paid traffic citation (not using a seatbelt), court records show.

Anyone with information about the alleged incident was asked to contact Investigator Cline with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Munoz with the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600.