(This story was updated with new information, a video and photos.)
A driver died in a single-car crash that caused damage to the historic pink Elephant Car Wash sign along Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report at 2:19 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, for a collision at Highway 111 and Indian Trail. They found a car had collided with a light pole and caused damage to the large sign along the busy roadway, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene and had not been publicly identified as of Tuesday afternoon. An investigation into what caused the collision was ongoing.
Work crews were on the scene Tuesday afternoon to repair the light pole, which seemed to sustain the brunt of the collision. The sign appeared to have a small dent on the word “Super,” though the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The owner of the Elephant Car Wash had not yet responded to an inquiry from The Desert Sun.
The large pink elephant sign promoting the Rancho Super Car Wash was installed in 1966, seven years before the city of Rancho Mirage incorporated.
In 2023, the city designated the prominent sign as a historic resource, essentially requiring any proposed changes to undergo a more stringent review process at city hall.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: One dies as crash damages Rancho Mirage’s famed Elephant Car Wash sign
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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