Fatal Crash on Highway 111 Damages Historic Elephant Car Wash Sign

UPDATE 9:30 a.m.: with details from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department

A driver was killed early Tuesday after crashing into a light pole on Highway 111 at Indian Trail in Rancho Mirage, also damaging the historic Elephant Car Wash sign. 

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department says the crash happened at 2:19 a.m., with deputies arriving to find a single-vehicle collision, with the driver, the sole occupant, pronounced dead at the scene. The driver's identity is being withheld until the family can be notified.

As of the time of writing, Highway 111 was fully closed westbound from Rancho Las Palmas Drive to Indian Trail, with heavy eastbound traffic backing up to Indian Trail as signals ran on red flash. The Palm Desert Station's Collision Reconstruction Team has taken over the investigation. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Deputy Derek Thomas at (760) 836-1600 or Riverside Sheriff's Dispatch at (760) 836-3215.