(Indio, CA) A 35-year-old Austin, Texas, man died when a wrong-way pickup struck his Chevrolet on Interstate 10 west of Box Canyon Road.
On October 31, at about 2:15 a.m., the collision occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10, east of Indio, near Chiriaco Summit. Jose Trevino was driving a Chevrolet Colorado east in the far-right lane, according to the California Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation. At the same time, a Ford F-150 Raptor approached from the opposite direction.
The Ford’s driver, a 41-year-old Yucaipa man, travelled west within the eastbound lanes when the pickups collided head-on, investigators said. Trevino suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Ford driver survived with major injuries. Following the collision, the injured driver was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment.
CHP officers suspect alcohol contributed to the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing. The agency is seeking information from anyone who saw the collision or can help explain the events surrounding it. Witnesses should contact Officer M. Rojas at 760-772-5300.
Legal Overview of the Interstate 10 Accident
The CHP describes the Ford traveling against traffic within the eastbound roadway. That reported movement brings the rules for divided highways directly into the analysis.
California Vehicle Code 21651 prohibits driving on the wrong side of the barrier or dividing section separating opposing traffic. Its wrong-way provision concerns which roadway a vehicle occupies, not simply whether it leaves an individual lane. The Ford’s reported westbound travel in eastbound lanes is the conduct addressed by that rule.
Alcohol involvement requires a separate assessment. California Vehicle Code 23152 prohibits driving under the influence and separately prohibits driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. The CHP has described alcohol as a suspected factor. That wording should remain distinct from a confirmed test result or a finding that the driver violated the statute.
What the Family Can Do
Use Officer Rojas’s contact number to establish a point of contact following the Interstate 10 accident and obtain the collision report number. Preserve any dash-camera footage or witness information your family receives, including material showing the Ford before impact, and provide the original to investigators. A recording of its approach could help document the wrong-way travel described by the CHP.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 888-888-9285 to speak with a lawyer.
