Crime & Safety

CHP: Deputy Involved Crash Caused By Unsafe Lane Change

The officer, who was assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff's Station in Palm Desert, struck a pickup truck and was thrown from his bike Monday.

A motorcycle officer who broke his collar bone and several ribs, suffered a partially deflated lung in a crash on a busy Palm Desert street was expected to recover, a deputy said today.

Deputy Eric Romaine, who was assigned to the traffic bureau of the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station, struck a pickup truck as it was making an unsafe turn from Cook Street onto St. James Place about 3:20 p.m. Monday, according to CHP Officer Joe Zagorski.

The 35-year-old deputy was thrown from his bike, according to Sgt. Dave Adams of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Find out what's happening in Palm Desertwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The driver of the pick-up truck, 41-year-old Juan M. Chavez of Indio, was not hurt and declined medical treatment, while the deputy was taken to a local hospital, the sergeant said.

Romaine remains in stable condition and is expected to survive, Adams said.

Find out what's happening in Palm Desertwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Palm Desert Police Department requests anyone who has any information regarding this incident to contact Sgt. Dave Adams at (760) 836-1600 or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.