Four traffic collisions occurred on Highway 74 last week, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Information Officer Matt Napier.
On April 10 at 7:30 a.m., Giovanni Tapia Ramos, 22 of Coachella, was driving his gray 2020 Toyota Corolla eastbound on Highway 74 near Carrizo Road at a speed of 60 mph, according to Ramos, when he was looking down at his cell phone and drifted to the left into oncoming traffic, according to Napier.
In an attempt to avoid an oncoming car, he ran into the mountainside overturning his vehicle.
About a minute later, Taylor James Randolph, 30 of Desert Hot Springs, was traveling eastbound in his blue 2018 Honda Civic on Highway 74 in the same location as Ramos at 58 mph. While looking at the first collision, he allowed his vehicle to cross into opposing lanes and hit the same mountainside.
Both vehicles were towed by Valley Auto. Ramos had minor injuries but was not transported to a local hospital. Randolph complained of pain and had minor injuries but was not transported to a local hospital.
CHP reminds the public to always pay attention to the road and not lose focus while passing traffic collisions.
On April 1 at 4:25 p.m., Megan Elizabeth Fisher, 48 of La Quinta, was driving a silver 2001 Ford Explorer eastbound on Highway 74 near Palm Canyon Drive between 30 and 35 mph when she made an unsafe turn, lost control and collided with the rock embankment on the south side of the road.
Her vehicle continued forward and came to a rest in a drainage ditch. Her vehicle was towed by Valley Auto. Fisher had minor injuries and was transported by AMR to Eisenhower Medical Center.
On April 8 at 10:10 a.m., Kevin Noe Martinez, 27 of San Diego, was driving a rented white 2019 Nissan Sentra eastbound on Highway 74 near Highway 371 at a speed of 35 mph, according to Martinez, when he lost control due to the wet roadway.
Martinez traveled across the highway hitting a reflective paddle marker. The vehicle was towed by Valley Auto. Martinez did not suffer any injuries.
