Eastbound Interstate 10 off-ramp at Monroe Street: a vehicle that deputies had tried to stop went the wrong way and collided head-on with another vehicle
INDIO, CALIFORNIA (October 5, 2026): One man was killed and two Indio residents were hospitalized after an Indio pursuit crash on Monday evening, October 5, on the eastbound Interstate 10 off-ramp at Monroe Street, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by KESQ. The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner listed the time of injury as 7:35 p.m.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit began at about 7:33 p.m., when deputies spotted a wanted vehicle near Park Street and Miles Avenue and tried to make a traffic stop. The department said the vehicle failed to yield. Deputies lost sight of it on Monroe Street and later found it at the crash scene.
The CHP said the pursued vehicle traveled the wrong way on the Monroe Street off-ramp and collided head-on with another vehicle. The pursued vehicle caught fire, and its only occupant, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner’s office said his identity is pending.
The two people in the other vehicle, a 62-year-old driver and a 58-year-old passenger, both from Indio, suffered moderate to major injuries and were hospitalized, the CHP told KESQ. A SigAlert closed the eastbound off-ramp for an extended period. The CHP Indio office is investigating under case number 261005IC0253.
Liability for the Indio Pursuit Crash
Under California Civil Code § 1714, every driver is responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care, and Vehicle Code § 21651(b) generally prohibits driving the wrong way on a divided highway. Vehicle Code § 2800.3 makes fleeing a peace officer a crime when the flight causes serious injury or death. Under Vehicle Code § 17004.7, a public entity is immune from liability for injuries caused by a fleeing vehicle only if it adopts and promulgates a written pursuit policy and certifies regular training on it. Based on what has been released, the questions include:
- The wrong-way movement: The CHP said the pursued vehicle went the wrong way on the off-ramp before the head-on impact. That driver’s conduct is the starting point for any claim by the injured residents.
- The pursuit policy: Whether the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has a written pursuit policy that meets the requirements of Vehicle Code § 17004.7, and whether the required training was certified, can decide whether the county’s immunity applies.
- The pursuit timeline: The Sheriff’s Office said deputies lost sight of the vehicle on Monroe Street. Dispatch audio and in-car video can show how the pursuit unfolded and when it ended.
- Insurance for the injured: If the pursued vehicle had little or no insurance, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage on the injured residents’ own policy may be an important source of recovery.
The two injured residents may bring personal injury claims against any party found responsible, and those claims are separate from any criminal or administrative review of the pursuit. A claim involving a county agency must follow the Government Claims Act before any lawsuit can be filed.
Steps to Take After an Indio Pursuit Crash
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, police pursuits lead to deadly crashes across the country each year, and many of the people killed or hurt are not in the vehicle being chased.
- Request the CHP report: Ask the CHP Indio office for the traffic collision report under case number 261005IC0253 once it is complete.
- Keep medical records: Save every record, bill and discharge note from the hospital and follow-up care.
- Request pursuit records: Through a California Public Records Act request, ask the Sheriff’s Office for its written pursuit policy and training certification records.
- Preserve the vehicle: Ask that the injured residents’ vehicle be kept, not salvaged, until it can be inspected and its crash data downloaded.
Personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. A claim against Riverside County or another public entity, however, is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2, and the pursuit makes that shorter deadline especially important here. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Indio Pursuit Crash
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who died on the Monroe Street off-ramp, and we hope for the full recovery of the two Indio residents who were injured. Important questions remain: How did the pursued vehicle end up traveling the wrong way on the eastbound off-ramp? And does the Sheriff’s Office pursuit policy meet every requirement that state law sets?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 8, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 5, 2026.
