Elderly Woman Hit, Killed in Palm Springs Crosswalk

An elderly woman died Tuesday night when she was hit by a car near downtown Palm Springs, police said.

The unidentified woman was walking on South Palm Canyon Drive, near Avenida Palmera, when she was hit just before 6 p.m., according to Palm Springs Police Sergeant Mike Kovaleff.  She died at the scene.

According to Kovaleff, the woman was not in a crosswalk when she was hit by a Kia van.  The driver remained at the location.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that the Kia was traveling northbound on South Palm Canyon Drive, towards the intersection of Avenida Palmera," Kovaleff said.  "The pedestrian was walking westbound, across the northbound lanes of South Palm Canyon Drive, outside of any crosswalk area. The Kia struck the pedestrian in the roadway area north of Avenida Palmera."

Kovaleff said the area was slated to be closed for several hours Tuesday night as police investigators remained on scene, and urged motorists to steer clear of the area.

The following streets were closed during that investigation: 

• South Palm Canyon Drive is closed to northbound traffic at Avenida Palmera.
• South Palm Canyon Drive is closed to southbound traffic at Morongo Road.

Kovaleff added that it does not appear that alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident.

Anybody with information on this accident is asked to contact the Palm Springs Police Department at 760-323-8116.