Patrick Petre dies in fatal Palm Desert bike crash
Fatal Palm Desert bike crash death of Patrick Petre – Obituary
Patrick Petre, a 72-year-old resident of Palm Desert, was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Fred Waring Drive, east of San Pablo Avenue, early Thursday morning.
The collision occurred around 6:30 a.m., and Petre was rushed to a hospital in Palm Springs with severe injuries, where he succumbed to them the following day.
Initial reports from Cal Fire indicated a pedestrian had been hit, but further clarification from the sheriff’s department revealed that Petre had been cycling when the incident occurred.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the driver involved remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigation. Authorities confirmed that neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to play a role in the crash. No additional updates have been provided as the assigned deputy was unavailable.
Petre’s death marks the second fatal bike collision in the area within three days. On New Year’s Day, another cyclist lost their life after being hit by a vehicle in nearby Rancho Mirage, though their identity has not yet been released.
