Driving Under the Influence, Fatal Traffic Collision 

June 8, 2023 - Riverside County Sheriff's Office officials report that on June 6, 2023, about 8:14 p.m., deputies assigned to the Thermal Station responded to a major injury traffic collision at the intersection of Avenue 51 and Chiapas Street in the city of Coachella. Upon their arrival, deputies found two occupants of one vehicle with major injuries and began life saving measures; the driver of the second vehicle was uninjured. One of the injured parties succumbed to his injuries at the scene and the other was transported to a local hospital for additional medical treatment.

The Coachella Community Action Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The driver of one of the involved vehicles, Antonio Tellez Leon, 38 years of Coachella, showed signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, violation of probation, felony driving under the influence causing injury, and murder. Leon was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

The traffic collision investigation required the temporary closure of all east and westbound lanes of Avenue 51 between Frederick Street and Van Buren Street. The roadway has been reopened.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Tom Anderson

File # Y231570047

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Esteban Molina of the Thermal Station at 760-863-8990. Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847). You can also leave anonymous information on wetip.com.

Source: Riverside County Sheriff's Office