Deadly Crash In La Quinta Kills 3

A motorcycle driver crashed late Tuesday night in La Quinta, killing a pedestrian.

Then moments later, the motorcycle driver and a good samaritan who tried to help him, were run over and killed by a pickup truck.

All of this unfolded at 9:19 Tuesday night on Highway 111 and Simon Drive in La Quinta, just east of Washington Street.

It all started when two motorcycle drivers were traveling eastbound on Highway 111 and one of them, 26 year old Brandt Celli of Indio, struck a pedestrian, 33 year old Maria Reyes of La Quinta.

Reyes was killed. 

Celli was ejected and his motorcycle ended up in the westbound lanes of Highway 111.

A pickup truck heading west hit the motorcycle, then hit the center median, and hit two people who had stopped to help Celli.  Celli died at the scene.

One of the people who had stopped to help was 47 year old Katherine Vogts of Palm Desert, a hospice nurse.  She was killed by the pick-up truck.

The other person who had stopped to help, was injured, but did survive.

The driver of the pickup truck did remain at the scene and cooperated with police. 

So far, there is no indication that alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash involving the pickup truck.

Emergency responders rush to the scene of an emergency.

Editorial.

Photo from Alpha Media Portland OR