A Palm Desert man suspected of driving under the influence in a two-vehicle crash in Palm Desert was behind bars today.
Nathan Blaine Taylor, 39, was arrested shortly before midnight and booked into the county jail in Indio. The two-vehicle crash was reported about 9:25 p.m. Thursday near Highway 111 and Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert. Witnesses said one of the vehicles left the scene, sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Carroll said.
Carroll said a Ford Focus was traveling west on Highway 111 and ran a red light, turning south onto Monterey. The Focus was struck by a Volkswagen Touareg, which was traveling east on 111. The driver of the Focus drove off, then struck a mailbox. The vehicle was found near Hedgehog Street and Edgehill Drive and the driver was detained, Carroll said.
He said Taylor, the driver of the Focus, was transported to Eisenhower Medical Center "due to his high level of intoxication," and later booked at the jail in Indio. Two people in the Tourareg complained of minor pain and were transported to Eisenhower, Carroll said.
Taylor was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and was expected to be arraigned Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to jail records.
