87-Year-Old Driver Arrested After Running Over 4 DHS Kids: CHP

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA — The California Highway Patrol released its preliminary report about a Thursday crash that left a 9-year-old schoolgirl dead and three other youngsters injured in Desert Hot Springs.

The report shows that an 87-year-old Desert Hot Springs man was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.

Robert William Hanson was booked into Indio's John Benoit Detention Center shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday and was released Friday in lieu of $75,000 bail, jail records show.

The CHP reported that Hanson was heading south on Corkill Road shortly before 4 p.m. in a 1994 Cadillac, near Aurora Road, when he crashed into the right rear of a school bus in front of him.

Hanson then steered his car onto the road's right dirt shoulder, striking a speed limit sign and four youngsters who were walking on the path, the CHP reported.

Monica Gonzalez Guzman, 9, of Desert Hot Springs died at the scene, approximately 100 feet south of Aurora Road, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

An 8-year-old Desert Hot Springs boy was hospitalized at Desert Regional Medical Center with major injuries, while two other Desert Hot Springs elementary-aged schoolchildren suffered minor injuries, according to the CHP.

The 55-year-old school bus driver and her two passengers, ages 11 and 12, were not hurt. All were Desert Hot Springs residents, the CHP said.

Drugs and/or alcohol have been ruled out as crash factors, but the incident remains under investigation by the CHP, the agency reported.

A released statement from the Palm Springs Unified School District read, "PSUSD officials were contacted shortly before 4:30 p.m. this afternoon following a report of one of our buses being hit from behind. We later learned that the driver who hit that bus continued to drive and struck four local students who had been dropped off at their bus stop and were on their way home.

"We subsequently learned that one of the children was killed and two others sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital."

PSUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Swize said, "It is overwhelming to hear and process this kind of tragic news. We want our families and staff to know that we are here for them to provide any supports they need now or in the coming days and weeks ahead. All of us at Palm Springs Unified extend our heartfelt condolences at this most difficult time."

KESQ reported that the victims were Julius Corsini Elementary School students.

Hanson is due to appear in court Feb. 17, jail records show.