Witness describes ‘terrifying’ near-miss during chase that ended in crash near Indio-Coachella border
Garrett Hottle
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) A driver who says he was nearly hit during Wednesday’s police pursuit through La Quinta and Indio is describing what he calls a “terrifying, split-second” moment that could have taken his life.
Twenty-year-old Jesse Bautista told KESQ News Channel he was driving east on Avenue 48, near Jefferson Street, when he suddenly saw flashing lights fill his rearview mirror.
“I looked and saw a white Camaro and a bunch of cops,” Batista said. “I could’t move over there were cars in front of me. The driver was right behind me, and at the last second, he jerked the car into another lane. If he hadn’t, he would’ve hit me.”
He says his windows were down and he could hear the sound of sirens growing louder as the pursuit closed in. He says the Camaro swerved sharply between lanes before speeding past, followed by several Riverside County Sheriff’s patrol cars.
“It was so fast I didn’t have time to think,” he said. “I was shaking, tearing up—I thought, ‘I’m too young to die.’”
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first tried to stop the suspect around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday near Avenue 47 and Adams Street in La Quinta. The driver failed to cooperate, leading to a chase that ended at Avenue 48 and Calhoun Street near the Indio-Coachella border, where the suspect crashed into another vehicle.
Deputies say the suspect ran from the scene but was caught after a neighborhood search. The driver of the uninvolved vehicle was taken to a hospital in stable condition, and Indio Police assisted with traffic control as the crash site was cleared.
Batista says after the near miss, he pulled over with other drivers and watched the chase continue east toward Coachella.
“Even when I got home, I could still hear the sirens,” he said. “My adrenaline was through the roof.”
The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing. The suspect’s name and charges have not been released.
Stick with KESQ News Channel 3 for updates.