A pedestrian was killed Friday night in a car crash near the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The victim has been identified as Michala Freeland, 18, of Highland, Calif., according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.
The Desert Sun reported that around 8:13 p.m., a Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling eastbound on Avenue 52 east of Monroe Street when it hit and killed Freeland as she was crossing the street, police said.
Freeland was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center, where she died at 9:27 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.
The driver of the car was a man from Indio, who stayed at the scene and has cooperated with the investigation, police said. Neither the driver nor his passenger, an infant, were injured.
The Riverside County coroner’s office identified the victim as Michala Freeland of Highland.
Officers said the crash happened around 8:15 p.m. near the intersection of Avenue 52 and Monroe Street. Police said Freeland was crossing the road east of the intersection from the north side of the street when she was hit by a Jeep. She was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center where she later died.
The driver of the Jeep stopped and is cooperating with police. He and his child were not hurt in the crash.
The victim’s family told News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2 Freeland was attending the festival Friday night.
Drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash.
