Varner Road now open at Date Palm Drive following mudslides
Athena Jreij
Update 11/16/25
Cathedral City confirmed Public Works crews have completed cleanup operations following the mudslide, and Varner Road has now been reopened to traffic.
Original Report 11/15/25
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) –Nearly 30 people were evacuated from their cars at Varner Road and Date Palm Drive after a mudslide trapped them.
Over a dozen cars were stranded in the mud after a heavy downpour in the area.
Bulldozers were called out to tow the cars and clear the area.
Frankie Espinoza says she was on her way to dog sit at a friend’s house when her and her niece got caught in the storm, following several accidents on the road.
“There was one accident behind us. Nobody was hurt in that one, I think it was just a fender bender. But they were able to get their family, towed them out. Then there was this one in front of us. There was another accident that occurred probably a mile behind us. So this road has just been crazy for the past two hours,” Espinoza said.
No injuries were reported, but several people were taken into ambulances to warm up.
Varner Road at Date Palm Drive has been closed due to hazardous conditions, with the closure expected to last through the weekend.