News
Prosecution Rests in Trial of Man Accused in Tour de Palm Springs Death
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The prosecution rested Monday in the trial of an unlicensed driver accused of killing a Tour de Palm Springs bicyclist and severely injuring another when he lost control of his car while high on drugs, speeding to get around the competitors in Indio Hills.
Ronnie Ramon Huerta Jr., 26, of Desert Hot Springs, is charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence of drugs resulting in great bodily injury, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.
Following a week of presenting evidence, prosecutors called their final witness, after which the defense opened its case Monday afternoon.
Testimony was slated to resume Tuesday morning at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Huerta is free on a $250,000 bond.
According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, the defendant was a repeat traffic offender, racking up seven citations over a two-year span for speeding, failing to obey traffic signals and signs, making unsafe lane changes and driving while distracted due to use of a cellular telephone.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles in 2017 suspended his driving privileges because he had accumulated so many points on his record that he was deemed a “negligent operator” and unsafe to be on the road, the brief said.
Huerta had been suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana during a Desert Hot Springs police investigation in January 2017 stemming from his plowing through a stop sign on Palm Drive. However, no charges were filed due to lack of conclusive results in blood screenings that were done after his arrest, according to court papers.
Shortly after 9 a.m. Feb. 10, 2018, Huerta left his family’s residence in his 2006 Ford 500 sedan, allegedly lit up a marijuana bong and headed for his girlfriend’s house in Indio.
The annual Tour de Palm Springs was underway at the time, with bicyclists from the U.S. and abroad participating in the 50-mile ride through the Coachella Valley.
According to the brief, multiple law enforcement agencies in the region were staffing road blocks, and the event was heavily advertised in area media, notifying the public that riders would be traversing a number of corridors, requiring motorists to take precautions.
“The defendant traveled between 90 and 100 mph on Dillon Road, passing numerous bicyclists for more than 15 miles,” the brief stated. “Approximately 9:20 a.m., the defendant approached 30th Avenue and came upon a vehicle traveling at a slow speed, using caution amongst the racers. (Huerta) impatiently attempted to pass the slow-moving truck. As he sped around it, his tires hit the dirt shoulder on the opposite side of the roadway.”
According to court papers, Huerta lost control, and his car plowed into 54-year-old Mark Kristofferson of Lake Stevens, Washington, as well as then-48-year-old Alyson Lee Akers of Huntington Beach. After striking the victims, the sedan hit a berm and overturned.
Prosecutors said Huerta self-extricated himself and tried to run into the desert to hide the marijuana he’d been smoking, but witnesses prevented him from going anywhere and called 911.
Riverside County Fire Department paramedics reached the location a short time later and pronounced Kristofferson dead at the scene. Akers was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, suffering significant head trauma.
She was left with lasting injuries.
“Witnesses were contacted at the scene of the collision,” court papers said. “More than a dozen bicyclists came forward with terrifying accounts of their near-misses with the defendant.”
Huerta suffered minor injuries in the rollover crash and was treated and released from the hospital the next day.
He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
By: Pristine Villarreal
May 9, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
Murder suspect Vicky Kim has once again not been cleared to appear in court. Kim is accused of killing her husband at their Palm Desert condominium complex. Her arraignment has now been delayed three times. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we track the latest developments in this case. #VickyKim #PalmDesert #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews #CourtUpdate NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs is mourning the loss of beloved entertainer James “Gypsy” Haake, who has died at 94. Haake began his entertainment career at just 19 years old as a Broadway chorus dancer. After retiring from the stage, he returned to performing at 82, becoming the host of Carnival Cabaret at Oscars in downtown Palm Springs. A longtime friend of our station, Haake was a familiar and beloved figure in the Palm Springs entertainment community — and his contributions were recognized with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. His career spanned more than seven decades, proving that the spotlight never truly left him. ❤️ Rest in peace, James “Gypsy” Haake. Your legacy will live on in Palm Springs. #JamesGypsyHaake #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsWalkOfStars #CarnivalCabaret #PalmSpringsEntertainment #OscarsPalmSprings #PalmSpringsHistory
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Sterling Conley with the rushing TD, 2) Marcus Kennedy with the touchdown catch, 3) Cade Pinon with the big time sack, 4) Kingston Pellum with the pick-6, or 5) Caleb Hartwell with the saving throw #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
James Nellis from @dsrt_club_lq and @rd_rnnr_lq makes us one of his signature dishes, his Maine scallops with hibiscus puree. His creativity and skill lead to unique bold flavors and scrumptious dishes. We chat about his love of trying new things in the kitchen, what being a chef means to him, and how food can different, flavorful, and fun. This is James Nellis on a plate. See it now on nbcpalmsprings.com
At the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, first responders, families and community members came together to honor the lives lost—and the heroes who answered the call 25 years ago on September 11, 2001. Two first responders who responded to opposite sides of the World Trade Center met for the first time at the event, sharing a powerful moment of remembrance and connection. 26 flights. Three times. One enduring message: Never Forget. #NeverForget #September11 #911Memorial #MemorialStairClimb #FirstResponders HonorAndRemember 911
Palm Desert’s future takes center stage next week. The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce presents the 2026 State of the City Address & Luncheon on Friday, September 18, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort. The event brings together local business leaders, community members and city stakeholders for an inside look at the priorities, opportunities and future of Palm Desert. Friday, September 18 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Palm Desert Individual tickets are $85 for Chamber members and $95 for non-members. Get the details and registration information from the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce. #PalmDesert #StateOfTheCity #CoachellaValley #PalmDesertBusiness #GreaterPalmSprings #PalmDesertChamber
25 years later, the memories of 9/11 remain vivid for the firefighters who witnessed the tragedy firsthand. A longtime FDNY firefighter reflects on the trauma, loss and moments that have stayed with him a quarter-century after the attacks. #911 #September11 #NeverForget #FDNY #Firefighter #911Anniversary #25YearsLater #NewYorkCity #Remembering911 #NBCTPalmSprings
A troubling history is coming to light in a Palm Desert husband’s death. 65-year old Vicky Kim is accused in the death of her husband — but prosecutors say she had previously faced several domestic violence cases involving him. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office says it had secured protective orders against Kim before a judge later resolved her cases as misdemeanors, released her from custody and terminated those orders. Now, Kim is expected to be arraigned in connection with her husband’s death. Court records allege the weapon used was a flagpole.
☕️🔥 How hot is TOO hot? A new study finds that drinking scalding-hot beverages may be linked to nearly 3 times the risk of esophageal cancer—the most common type of cancer affecting the esophagus. The takeaway? Let that coffee, tea or other hot drink cool down before taking a sip. ❤️ #HealthNews #EsophagealCancer #CancerRisk #HotBeverages #Coffee #Tea #CancerAwareness #HealthyHabits #HealthTips