PALM SPRINGS, CA โ A Palm Springs police officer injured nearly a dozen people when he crashed his motorcycle into a crowd during a popular holiday parade in Palm Springs, and an investigation into the crash was underway Sunday by the California Highway Patrol.
The accident took place shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday at Palm Canyon Drive and Amado Road, along the route of the 32nd annual Palm Springs Festival of Light Parade in the city’s downtown area.
Video shot by parade attendees shows the motorcycle traveling at a high speed as it veers into the crowd.
“By now most of our community knows at the parade tonight one of our traffic motors had an accident on his motorcycle and unfortunately several citizens and our officer were injured,” Palm Sprints Police Chief Andy Mills said in a social media post late Saturday. “I feel terrible about the accident and injuries to the very people we protect. I am deeply concerned and hope for a thorough recovery. CHP has been asked to conduct a complete traffic investigation and we will conduct an administrative investigation. As Chief of Police, I am responsible for this department and the men and women who serve. After we conduct our investigations I will report back to the community. Again, I am truly sorry.”
The Palm Springs Police Department identified the officer as Kenney Merenda, and Lt. Gustavo Araiza told City News Service on Sunday that Merenda suffered a fractured hand in the accident.
Mills posted an update Sunday afternoon in which he said he visited the officer in the hospital.
“Mayor Jeffery Bernstein, City Manager Scott Stiles, Cathy and I went to see Officer Kenney Merenda in the hospital. He was alert and conversant,” Mills said. “The Doctors at Desert Regional are amazing, and I am happy to report he will likely recover mobility in his hand. Kenny expressed deep concern for all of those injured and wishes them a full and speedy recovery. Of the 11 others transported for care, two were kept by the hospital for further treatment.
“I am aware of social media accounts containing video of the accident. There is also video of officers demonstrating traffic control maneuvers. All of the video available to us will be analyzed and included in the investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol. Once I have a full understanding of what took place, what caused the accident, and what we could have done differently, I will report back to the community our findings. I appreciate the overwhelming support from Palm Springs.”
Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein also promised to get to the bottom of what caused the accident.
“As Mayor, I take this very seriously. I also know that Palm Springs is unique. We have the community that can and will join in unison to overcome the most difficult of circumstances,” Bernstein said on social media Saturday.
The CHP requests that anyone who has video or images showing the accident send them to PSCityGovernmentMedia@palmspringsca.gov.
The annual celebration was held at 401 S. Pavilion Way from 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Saturday and featured floats, dance performances, giant balloons and a variety of special guests.
Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum was celebrity grand marshal and Madchen Amick, known as her role in the CW show “Riverdale,” was honorary grand marshal. Miss California Kimberly Vernon and Nancy Sinatra were also featured in the parade, which continued after authorities cleared the scene of the accident.
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