Yuvinka Ponce dies in fatal Cathedral City DUI pedestrian crash

Yuvinka Ponce dies in fatal Cathedral City DUI pedestrian crash

Fatal Cathedral City DUI pedestrian crash death of Yuvinka Ponce – Obituary

Yuvinka Ponce, a 27-year-old woman from Cathedral City, tragically lost her life after being struck by a vehicle while walking on Dinah Shore Drive near Via Echo on the evening of May 24. The collision occurred in the westbound lanes close to the Cathedral City Marketplace and was reported to police around 8:45 p.m.

Officers who arrived at the scene found Ponce severely injured in the roadway and she was pronounced dead at the site. The driver involved, 35-year-old Anthony Vega, also from Cathedral City, remained at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of DUI causing serious bodily injury. Police confirmed that impairment was a factor in the crash but have not disclosed further details regarding substances in Vega’s system or why Ponce was in the roadway.

Vega is currently in custody with a $50,000 bond. The stretch of Dinah Shore Drive near the crash was closed for several hours before reopening early Sunday morning. This fatal accident was the second DUI-related fatality in Cathedral City within hours during the Memorial Day weekend, a period often marked by increased incidents involving alcohol.

The community mourns the loss of Yuvinka Ponce, while law enforcement continues efforts to address DUI dangers on local roads.