PALM SPRINGS: DUI crash kills one, police say (UPDATE)

October 17, 2015 3:55 pm

An Indio man suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol was arrested following a fatal two-car crash Saturday, Oct. 17, in Palm Springs.

The crash, which was reported at 1:52 a.m. closed the intersection of Sunrise Way and Tahquitz Canyon Way. The intersection will remain closed until about 11 a.m. Saturday, according to a Palm Springs Police Department news release.�

Erwin Manolo Monterroso, 21, was driving a 2006 Mazda pickup east on Tanquitz Canyon Way towards Sunrise Way when he crashed into a 2013 Toyota Prius driving north on Sunrise Way at a green light. The news release did not say if Monterroso ran a red light.

The T-bone crash left the Prius driver dead at the scene, the news release said. Monterroso and his 21-year-old passenger were transported to a nearby hospital with moderate injuries, the news release said.

Police “had probable cause to believe that Monterroso was driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the collision,” the news release said. After he is cleared from the hospital, he will be booked into jail.