Highway 111 Accident Guide: Crashes Across the Coachella Valley

One Highway, Many Owners

Highway 111 isn’t maintained by one agency along its whole length. In 1995, the Legislature let Caltrans hand over pieces of Route 111 inside cities to those cities. Under the current Streets and Highways Code:

• The state route officially covers the stretch from the western city limits of Cathedral City to I-10 near Whitewater, plus the segments south of the valley.
• The part between SR-86 in the eastern valley and Cathedral City’s western limits has been handed over to local cities and the county, though they must keep signs pointing drivers along “Route 111.”
• The law also allows the state to hand over the segment inside Palm Springs.

Why this matters: if a pothole, broken signal, missing sign or poor design helped cause your crash, the agency responsible could be Caltrans, a city or Riverside County, depending on the exact spot. A claim against any of them generally must be filed in writing within six months. Don’t wait to find out which one it is. See how road conditions affect car accident claims.

How the Road Changes, City by City

• Palm Springs: the highway ends at I-10 as a divided expressway. In town, northbound traffic uses Indian Canyon Drive and southbound uses Palm Canyon Drive, and Business 111 runs through downtown. See our Palm Springs page.
• Cathedral City: the route follows the old Bradshaw Trail and passes the Cathedral City Auto Center. See our Cathedral City page.
• Rancho Mirage: “Restaurant Row,” with more than thirty restaurants between Bob Hope Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive. See our Rancho Mirage page.
• Palm Desert: El Paseo runs alongside, and SR-74 ends at Highway 111. Permitted golf carts may only cross state highways at controlled intersections. See our Palm Desert page.
• La Quinta and Indio: four lanes or wider through shopping centers and resort entrances. See our La Quinta and Indio pages.
• Coachella to Mecca: the highway narrows to two lanes as it leaves the valley, and it doubles as a fruit-shipping and trucking route. See our Coachella and Thermal and Mecca pages.

People on Foot, Bikes and Carts

Highway 111 runs past hotels, restaurants and shopping, so people cross it on foot day and night. CV Link, the 40-mile path for walkers, cyclists and low-speed electric vehicles finished in 2025, largely parallels Highway 111, and riders have to cross busy streets to reach it. If you were hit while walking or riding, see our pedestrian accident lawyer page.

Who Writes the Report

That depends on the city:

• City police: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Indio and Desert Hot Springs have their own departments.
• Riverside County Sheriff: Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indian Wells contract with the Sheriff’s Palm Desert Station. La Quinta, Coachella and the unincorporated eastern valley are served by the Thermal Station.
• CHP Indio Area, 79650 Varner Road, Indio, (760) 772-5300, patrols Highway 111 along with I-10 and State Routes 62, 74, 86 and 177, mostly outside city streets.

Hospitals Along the Corridor

After a Highway 111 Crash

1. Call 911 and get checked, even if you feel fine.
2. Write down the nearest cross street. With so many agencies, the exact spot matters.
3. Photograph signals, signs, lane markings and any road damage.
4. Get witness names and phone numbers.
5. Call us before giving a recorded statement to an insurer.

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years, but claims against a public agency have a six-month deadline. Civil cases from Coachella Valley ZIPs are filed at the Palm Springs Courthouse, 3255 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. See the statute of limitations for car accidents in California.

Highway 111 FAQs