Danger on the street. Blue flasher on the police car at night.
Indio, CA – A tragic multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 10 near Washington Street on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of two individuals and caused significant traffic disruptions. The crash, which occurred just after 1 p.m., involved a white Toyota, two semi-trucks, and a repair vehicle, leading to hours of delays for westbound drivers.
According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Rafael Espinosa, the incident took place near mile marker 49. Early reports suggest that the driver of the white Toyota, who was traveling in the second lane of I-10 westbound, suddenly veered right for unknown reasons. This maneuver caused the Toyota to collide with a blue semi-truck and its attached trailer, which was traveling in the adjacent lane.
The impact of the crash pushed the white Toyota into a red semi-truck and trailer that had been disabled and parked on the right shoulder of the highway. In front of the disabled truck was a white tire repair truck assisting with the breakdown. After the initial collision, the blue semi-truck was pushed forward, hitting the repair truck and its driver, who was servicing the disabled vehicle at the time.
Fabian Zamora, a 31-year-old man from Indio, and Carolina Navarrete De Leal, a 49-year-old woman from Coachella, were tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Zamora was the driver of the white Toyota, while Navarrete De Leal was the maintenance worker in the repair truck. The devastating loss has left the local communities of Indio and Coachella mourning the deaths of these individuals.
The crash caused significant traffic disruptions, with two westbound lanes of I-10 blocked off while emergency responders worked at the scene. Drivers were diverted to Varner Road, resulting in long delays. A post from Caltrans on X confirmed that the lanes were closed for several hours, with all lanes reopened to traffic by 6:30 p.m..
As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues, CHP officials have not yet released further information on why the white Toyota veered off course. Officers are working to collect additional evidence and witness statements to understand the events leading to this tragic incident.
This fatal crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers on the roads, especially in areas where vehicles are stopped for repairs. The deaths of Zamora and Navarrete De Leal have deeply affected the local communities, and the incident highlights the importance of being cautious around vehicles on the shoulder.