Search for White Van After Man in Wheelchair Critically Injured in Cathedral City Hit-and-Run

A pre-dawn hit-and-run in Cathedral City has left a 68-year-old man in a wheelchair fighting for his life, and police are now searching for the driver who initiated the tragedy and vanished into the darkness. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday on Date Palm Drive, just south of the busy Gerald R. Ford Drive intersection.

According to Cathedral City Police, the man was crossing the street in his wheelchair when he was first struck by a southbound vehicle described as a white minivan. The driver of that van failed to stop and render aid, fleeing the scene. Just moments later, as the victim lay injured in the roadway, he was hit by a second vehicle. The driver of the second car immediately stopped, remained at the scene, and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

First responders rushed the injured man to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he is listed in critical condition.

Investigators have since recovered surveillance footage of the suspect vehicle. They believe it is a white Toyota Sienna, model year between 2011 and 2020. Due to the nature of the collision, the minivan is expected to have noticeable front-end damage. The Cathedral City Police Traffic Bureau is making a direct appeal to the community for any information that could lead to identifying the vehicle and the driver responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cathedral City Police investigators or to report tips anonymously through Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers.