COACHELLA, CA — A wrong-way driver incited a head-on collision that killed three people on the eastbound I-10 Freeway in Coachella late Tuesday. The California Highway Patrol Indio division released the names of those killed in the crash on Thursday.
Lizeth Duran Martinez and Meliton Perez Dominguez, both 39 of Phoenix, were killed, along with 71-year-old Guillermo Ocampo Bahena of Orange, in the crash.
Just after 10 p.m., emergency responders raced to the scene of the crash east of Dillon Road, according to California Highway Patrol Officer David Torres.
The Toyota Camry driver, Bahena, was traveling at an unconfirmed speed westbound in the eastbound lanes when it crashed head-on with the Honda Accord, carrying Martinez and Dominguez.
All three were pronounced dead at the scene, Torres said. Neither alcohol nor drugs is suspected to be a factor in the crash.
An autopsy was pending on Bahena on Thursday, he added.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation was asked to contact the Indio CHP office at 760-772-5300.
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