Palm Desert Woman Struck, Killed By Local Teacher ID'd By Coroner

PALM DESERT, CA — A Palm Desert woman who was struck and killed by a suspected intoxicated driver earlier this month was identified Tuesday by the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

Nancy Valdes, 64, died at the Palm Desert crash scene just before 6:30 p.m. March 4 after being struck by a Palm Desert High School teacher and football coach who was charged with murder because he was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the fatal wreck.

Cameron Francis Curtis, 31, of Palm Desert additionally faces a sentence enhancing allegation of great bodily injury, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains behind bars at Riverside's Robert Presley Detention Center with no bail set.

The fatal crash was reported at 6:06 p.m. March 4 in the 73200 block of Calliandra Street, according to the coroner.

A gray Nissan Frontier going eastbound on Calliandra at an unknown speed struck the woman who was walking along the street, Sgt. Shaun Griffith of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported following the crash.

"Intoxication appears to have played a role in this collision," Griffith reported.

Curtis was detained at the scene and subsequently arrested. He is due in court Friday for a bail review and felony settlement conference, according to court records.

The sheriff's Palm Desert station urged anyone with information regarding the crash to call them at 760-836-1600. Tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-782-7463 or 800-473-7847.