On Sunday, January 18, 2026, in the early morning darkness, a pedestrian was fatally injured in a hit-and-run crash in Palm Springs. The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on East Vista Chino near its intersection with Hermosa Drive and Avenida Caballeros.
Officers from the Palm Springs Police Department responded to the report of a person lying in the eastbound lanes of traffic near 1011 E. Vista Chino . Upon arrival, they found an unresponsive adult male in the roadway who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle .
Emergency medical personnel arrived quickly but were unable to revive the victim. He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 3:40 a.m. . To conduct a proper investigation, authorities temporarily closed a section of East Vista Chino between North Hermosa Drive and North Avenida Caballeros, reopening it around 7:40 a.m. .
The Riverside County Coroner’s Bureau later identified the victim as 56-year-old Ricardo Marano, a resident of Palm Springs . Following the crash, the driver fled the scene without providing aid or identifying themselves .
However, the investigation progressed quickly. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Palm Springs Police Department announced they had identified and seized a black 2005 Chevrolet Silverado in the nearby community of Thousand Palms as the vehicle believed to be involved in the fatal collision . As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made and the driver’s identity remains unknown .
The Palm Springs Police Department’s Traffic Division is continuing its investigation into the circumstances of the crash and the driver’s identity . Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the department at 760-323-8125 . The tragic death of Ricardo Marano has sparked community concern about pedestrian safety on Palm Springs roadways .