It was a Friday evening drive Jen Cheney will never forget. The longtime Highway 74 resident was heading home around 5:30 p.m. when a driver in a Mercedes crossed the double yellow line to pass traffic—and crashed head-on into her car, forcing her into the mountain.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that before in my life,” Jen told NBC Palm Springs. “Everything went into slow mode. I saw the side of his car right next to mine. The scariest part was the sounds—the metal and the glass.”
Despite the terrifying impact, Jen stayed alert. Her window was down, amplifying every crunch and collision. “I grabbed the wheel tightly and just tried to hold on. I felt his car pushing mine into the mountain.”
When her car came to a stop, it was filled with smoke from the other driver’s leaking fluids. Jen couldn’t open the doors—both were jammed. She climbed out through her window, disoriented and without her glasses.
Emergency crews responded quickly. “The sheriff, fire, and ambulance all showed up,” she said. The other driver was transported by ambulance, but Jen says she doesn’t know what happened to him after the crash.
Though she suffered injuries, Jen is thankful to be alive. Her message is clear: Highway 74 is dangerous, and no one should ever cross a double yellow line. “That road is narrow and treacherous,” she said. “You have to be careful.”
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: Fred Roggin
July 2, 2025
