A serious injury collision on Saturday, Nov. 19, sent one local woman to the hospital. The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary report stated that at 5:05 p.m., Edwin Hansen, 66, of Idyllwild, was driving his 2006 red Honda CRV eastbound on North Circle Drive in Idyllwild, just east of River Road, when he struck “a pedestrian,” Cynthia Hinds, 56, of Idyllwild.
Hinds suffered serious injuries. According to son Kurt Jones, injuries included a fractured pelvis, bruised adrenal gland and possible liver damage. After the incident, Hinds was transported by Mercy Air to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
Hinds and husband Rick had bought and just completed renovating Strawberry Creek Village vacation rentals at the corner of North Circle and River Road. The Hinds, recently relocated from the Bay Area, had scheduled a formal Open House on Sunday, Nov. 27, but that has been cancelled because of the incident. Hinds’ recovery may take significant time.
What is unclear as of this writing is Hinds’ location at the time of the incident. According to family and Hinds herself, she was on her property, about 10 feet from the roadway adjusting a Malibu light that was illuminating a recently placed sculpture. The CHP report notes she was a pedestrian but the report is not clear as to her exact location.
CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer said the investigation is ongoing.
Several witnesses across the street from the incident also said it appeared to them that Hinds was not on the street but on her property.
Hansen said he can’t remember what happened — that he didn’t see anyone and only knew he had hit someone when he heard screaming.
Meyer said it might take eight to 10 days to complete the investigation.
In other on-Hill collisions, at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, Shelly Alcala, 53, of Idyllwild, was driving her 2016 black Ford Fusion northbound on Highway 243, 1 mile north of Mt. Etna Road when she made an unsafe turning movement and collided head on with a 2006 tan Toyota Highlander driven by Julian Muller, 32, of Boulder, Colorado. Muller had been driving southbound on Highway 243 at the time of the collision.
Alcala was cited for driving under the influence (alcohol). Although there was major damage to both vehicles, no one was injured in the crash and no other vehicles were involved.
An off-Hill fatality collision involved Idyllwild Arts alum, Arthur Pembrook, 20, of Sky Valley. Pembrook was discovered in his vehicle, a 2000 silver Ford Taurus, on Saturday, Nov. 19, near the intersection of Dillon Road and Long Canyon Road in Desert Hot Springs. According to the CHP report, Pembrook’s vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree either on the night of Thursday, Nov. 17, or the early morning of Nov. 18. Pembrook was killed in the crash.
Pembrook was remembered as a talented actor and engaging personality on numerous Facebook posts.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly gave her Cindi Hinds' sons name as Kurt Hinds.
Kurt’s last name is not Hinds. His last name is Jones.
We will run a correction.