A tragic early-morning crash near an airport parking lot has left a young man dead after his vehicle overturned and landed on top of a parked car. The shocking incident has drawn attention as investigators continue working to determine what caused the deadly collision.
Authorities have identified the driver as 25-year-old Anthony De La Rosa of Desert Hot Springs. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the crash, which occurred in the early hours of the morning near Parking Lot B in front of the airport.
According to police, officers were dispatched at approximately 2:18 a.m. following reports of a rollover traffic collision. When they arrived, they found a vehicle overturned on top of another parked car. The scene showed clear signs of a high-impact crash that unfolded within seconds.
Preliminary investigations indicate the vehicle was traveling eastbound on East Tahquitz Canyon Way at a high rate of speed. As it approached the intersection of El Cielo Road, the driver lost control, veered off the roadway, and crossed a grassy area south of a fountain. The vehicle then became airborne, passing between two palm trees before crashing and coming to rest on top of a parked vehicle.
De La Rosa was ejected from the vehicle and suffered critical injuries. Officers and emergency responders immediately performed life-saving measures before he was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced dead at 3:03 a.m., just under an hour after the crash was reported.
The Palm Springs Police Department’s Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate the incident. No other injuries were reported, and airport operations were not affected. Authorities are still working to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash and are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation remains ongoing.