Author: KESQ

Shay Lawson

WHITEWATER, Calif. (KESQ)  – Carley Walton said her sister was her protector.

“We grew up in Whitewater together,” Walton said. “She was my best friend.”

Her name was Erica Brooke Walton and Carley said she was killed in a hit-and-run crash in October 2024.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said Erica was in dark clothing when she was struck by a vehicle while running on the Redlands (10) Freeway in Whitewater.  

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Carley said she was trying to get to her children.

“The only thing running through her mind is that she wanted to get to her kids,” Carley said. “I do believe she talked to 2 officers in Cabazon that day. She did ask them for a ride, but they declined.”

Now, she said she’s seeking answers on who hit her sister.

“I really want to figure out who did this,” Carley said. “We’re all really lost without her.”

News Channel 3 reached out to CHP and received this statement from Officer Palomera:

“This traffic crash was investigated by the CHP San Gorgonio Pass Area. Due to a lack of additional follow-up information or investigative leads, the investigation is not currently open, however, all unsolved felony hit-and-run fatality investigations are held indefinitely.  All leads were exhausted which were known or available, the CHP remains available to take and investigate any further leads brought forward to identify the hit and run driver and/or vehicle.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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Jesus Reyes

Update 2/19/26

The man was found safe. He is back with his family.

Original Report 2/18/26

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – A 28-year-old man with medical issues has been missing since Monday in Palm Desert, loved ones told News Channel 3.

Grant Yu was last seen Monday at around 6 p.m. along Monterey.

According to loved ones, Yu left home on foot and does not have money or a cellphone. Without his medication, he may be disoriented, confused, and vulnerable. His last medication was Monday morning 

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Yu. Anyone with information can call 760-836-1600.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs police reported intermittent phone connectivity issues today due to wind-related service disruptions and urged residents to be patient and continue calling 911 for emergencies.   

The department said its dispatch center was experiencing intermittent phone issues, and 911 calls were being temporarily routed to the Cathedral City Police Department to ensure emergency calls are received without interruption.

Non-emergency lines at 760-327-1441remained operational but may experience delays or missed calls, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

“If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, continue to call 911. For non-emergencies, please be patient and try calling again of you do not get through,” the department stated.

Officials said they were working to resolve the problem and would provide updates once service was fully restored.

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City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Jurupa Valley woman partly responsible for her 1-year-old son’s ingestion of a deadly dose of fentanyl was bound for state prison today to serve a sentence of 12 years, four months behind bars after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and another felony.

Sandy Alyssa Acuna, 25, admitted the manslaughter count, along with child cruelty, under a plea agreement Tuesday with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for her admissions, prosecutors dropped second-degree murder and other charges against Acuna.

During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.  

Acuna’s co-defendant and former live-in boyfriend, 26-year-old Adler Alan Metcalf of Jurupa Valley, is charged with second-degree murder and three counts of child cruelty. Metcalf’s case was pending trial Wednesday at the downtown courthouse, though no courtroom had been assigned yet for pretrial motions. He’s being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail. 

Adler Metcalf
(In Court – Left & Booking Photo – Right)

The defendants were the parents of Adler Jr., who died in 2020.   

According to a sheriff’s department arrest warrant declaration, in the early morning hours of Sept. 1, 2020, Acuna called 911 after discovering the toddler unconscious and barely breathing in their mobile home in the 5400 block of 34th Street.  

Paramedics attempted resuscitative measures, and the child was taken to a Riverside hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.   

Acuna told first responders she believed Adler Jr. had somehow climbed out of his crib and gotten hold of “three Oxycontin” pills that she claimed had been prescribed to her, according to the affidavit. The case was immediately turned over to detectives for potential child abuse, and further investigation revealed Acuna had no prescription for the painkillers.   

Investigators also turned their attention to the couple’s 4-month-old daughter, Melissa, whose blood was tested for the presence of drugs, which confirmed the infant had marijuana in her system, according to court papers.   

An autopsy ultimately verified that Adler Jr. had died from “acute fentanyl toxicity,” the declaration stated.   

Detectives seized Acuna’s mobile phone after a search warrant was served at the defendants’ residence in early October 2020. The device revealed pictures of blue “M-30” pills, which are known to contain fentanyl, according to the affidavit.

“Sandy said she does not use the drug,” the document said. “She said she allows a number of people to use her phone. Adler Sr. said he vapes marijuana, using a wax pen.”

Investigators later uncovered the parents were intentionally “giving fentanyl and marijuana to Adler Jr. and Melissa” for reasons unclear, the affidavit alleged.

The pair were arrested without incident during the second week of November 2020. Neither defendant had documented prior felony convictions.

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Jesus Reyes

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Salton City man accused of the murder of a missing 17-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first court appearance on Wednesday.

Abraham Feinbloom, 51, is charged with murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with the T’Neya Tovar case, a teenager reported missing on Dec. 1. He was arraigned at the El Centro Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 23 for a preliminary hearing.

According to our sister station KYMA, investigators said they determined Tovar died from a gunshot wound. Bullet fragments were found in a leg discovered not far from Feinbloom’s house on Dec. 21, which was later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Tovar.

Check Out: New timeline, digital evidence raise questions after arrest in T’Neya Tovar investigation

Additionally, prosecutors indicated Feinbloom and Tovar had been in contact since October 2025 and she was allegedly dropped off at his house in Salton City.

Feinbloom was arrested Friday morning following a search warrant at his home on Harlequin Court in Salton City. Investigators say when deputies moved in, Feinbloom jumped a fence in what appeared to run away from police.

On Wednesday, prosecutors revealed that when Feinbloom was arrested, he had a passport and Thai currency on him.

The FBI continues to ask that anyone with information about her murder contact police. A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the resolution of this case. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Strong overnight winds tore through the Coachella Valley, leaving a trail of damage and debris across several communities by early morning.

One of the hardest-hit areas was Parkview Mobile Home Estates, where powerful gusts knocked down fencing, overturned trash cans and furniture, and scattered debris throughout the property. Residents woke up to damaged awnings and fallen trees.

The winds created hazardous driving conditions across the valley. Blowing sand reduced visibility in several areas, prompting temporary road closures. Vista Chino at the wash is closed due to sand accumulation and safety concerns, forcing drivers to seek alternate routes.

Winds are expected to ease by 4 p.m., though cleanup efforts in affected neighborhoods are expected to continue.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more. 

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City News Service

DESERT CENTER, Calif. (KESQ) – High winds caused a semi-truck to overturn early today on Interstate 10 in Desert Center, sending two adults and a minor to a hospital with injuries.

The crash was reported about 3:20 a.m. Tuesday on westbound I-10, according to the California Highway Patrol.   

A preliminary investigation determined a 2015 Freightliner was traveling about 55 mph in the No. 2 lane when a sudden gust of wind pushed the vehicle out of its lane, causing it to overturn onto a metal guardrail, CHP officials said.

A 50-year-old woman was ejected from the truck and suffered severe injuries, while a 14-year-old boy complained of leg pain, according to the agency.

All three occupants were taken to Desert Region Medical Center in Palm Springs.

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Joel Killam

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway reopened Wednesday afternoon after a wind closure, with the first tram up at 12:00 p.m.

They will now be operating a normal schedule. The last car up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last car down will be at 9:30 p.m.

Earlier in the morning the Tramway was closed due to high winds.

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Garrett Hottle

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif (KESQ) Union Pacific Railroad Police led an operation Wednesday to clear homeless encampments along railroad property stretching from Monterey Road to Bob Hope Drive, citing safety concerns after multiple small fires in the past week.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assisted during the enforcement effort, but Union Pacific Railroad Police are the lead agency.

The operation comes after several reported camp fires near the tracks, including a brief fire Wednesday morning that Cal Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish

Many of the encampments were built in dense tamarisk trees lining the rail corridor. The trees were planted years ago as windbreaks to help reduce blowing sand across the tracks. Over time, the thick brush has created sheltered areas where makeshift structures and camps have been established.

Fire officials warn that open flames or cooking fires inside heavy brush can quickly spread, especially during dry and windy conditions common in the Coachella Valley.

Union Pacific Railroad Police have not said how long enforcement efforts will continue. News Channel 3 has reached out for additional details and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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Joel Killam

UPDATE 2/26/2026

Officials sent out an alert Thursday morning saying that Gene Autry is now open. at 11:30am they also announced that Indian Canyon at the wash is also now open.

UPDATE 2/25/26

Gene Autry has been shut down due to windy conditions

UPDATE 02/23/26:

Officials sent out an alert Monday morning saying that North Indian Canyon Drive is now closed due to flooding.

UPDATE 02/21/26:

The Palm Springs Police Department sent out an alert on Saturday that North Indian Canyon Drive is back open at the wash.

UPDATE 02/19/2026

Officials say Gene Autry and Vista Chino are open at the wash.

Original Report:

PALMS SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Department sent out alerts Wednesday that Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino are closed at the wash. Officials say the closures are due to low visibility as winds continue to pick up dust around the Coachella Valley.

This comes after Palm Springs police shut down North Indian Canyon Drive Tuesday due to flooding following recent storm activity. It remains closed at this time.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest on road closures around the Coachella Valley.

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