Fiery Crash West Of Palm Desert Claims Indio Man

Palm Desert CA

02 May, 2022

8:14 PM

Description

PALM DESERT, CA — A man who was killed over the weekend after his vehicle went off a cliff on state Route 74, west of Palm Desert, has been identified as an Indio man. Elijah Butler, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:11 a.m. Saturday, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department reported the crash occurred around 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Vista Point, which is about five miles up from the Coachella Valley floor. According to the agency, Butler's vehicle went off the highway about 200-300 feet and caught fire. He was ejected during the wreck, the agency reported. The blaze was contained by about 11:30 a.m., according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. No other injuries were reported. The crash prompted a Sigalert, and SR-74 was temporarily shut down in both directions from the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center to state Route 371, according to the California Highway Patrol. The highway reopened at around 2:55 p.m. The CHP is continuing to investigate the crash cause.