Coachella, California (April 14, 2026) — Three people were killed Tuesday night in a wrong-way collision on Interstate 10 in Coachella, according to authorities.
Officials identified the deceased as 39-year-old Lizeth Duran Martinez and 39-year-old Meliton Perez Dominguez, both of Phoenix, and 71-year-old Guillermo Ocampo Bahena of Orange.
The crash happened at about 10:00 p.m. on the eastbound I-10 near Dillon Road.
Incident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol, Bahena was driving a Toyota Camry that entered the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 while traveling westbound. Authorities said the Camry was moving in the fast lane at an unconfirmed speed when it collided head-on with a Honda Accord.
Martinez and Dominguez were inside the Honda. Riverside County Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and extricated both Honda occupants, along with Bahena, from the Toyota. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said no other vehicles were involved in the crash. CHP also stated that the reason Bahena was driving the wrong way remains under investigation. Authorities said alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be factors, and an autopsy on Bahena was pending.
Investigation: In a crash like this, investigators will likely focus first on how the Toyota entered the freeway going the wrong direction and why the driver continued into oncoming traffic. In a wrong-way freeway collision, those questions often become central to determining whether the crash resulted from confusion, disorientation, a medical emergency, or another cause.
Investigators may also review freeway entry points, roadway signage, witness statements, vehicle damage, and any available surveillance or traffic camera footage. Because the collision was head-on and involved no other vehicles, crash reconstruction will be especially important in determining the speed, lane position, and timing of the impact.
At the same time, the pending autopsy and unresolved question of why Bahena was traveling the wrong way may become important in evaluating the full legal picture. If a medical event or another unexpected factor played a role, that could affect how fault is analyzed.
Legal Considerations: Wrong-way freeway crashes often raise serious civil liability questions, even when drugs or alcohol are not suspected. In a case like this, the civil side can be just as important for families trying to understand how such a devastating collision happened in the first place.
The families of Martinez and Dominguez might be able to file wrongful death claims, depending on the investigation’s findings. These claims could provide compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as lost emotional and financial support.
My heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Lizeth Duran Martinez, Meliton Perez Dominguez, and Guillermo Ocampo Bahena.
Source: MyNewsLA