Driver Killed In La Quinta Vehicle Crash ID'd As Local Resident

LA QUINTA, CA — A driver died Monday morning after a single-vehicle crash in La Quinta, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies from the agency's Thermal station responded to a report of a traffic collision at approximately 7:13 a.m. near the northeast corner of Madison Street and Andalusia. They found a single vehicle that had struck a palm tree, the sheriff's department reported.

The driver, who was the vehicle's sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene. The county coroner identified him as James Merriman Jr., 73, of La Quinta.

The sheriff's La Quinta Traffic Reconstruction Team has taken over the investigation into the cause of the crash. Investigators said drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be factors.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Deputy Ponce with the La Quinta Traffic Team at 760-863-8990 or the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 760-836-3215.