Widow of 'Singing Cowboy' Gene Autry kills pedestrian while driving in Palm Springs

 The 69-year-old widow of famed “Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry struck and killed a homeless man while driving in Palm Springs on Thanksgiving Day, authorities said.

Jackie Autry struck 50-year-old Jesus Cardova Diaz as she was driving on Sunrise Way, north of Ramon Road, said Det. Steve Woodward, a traffic investigator with the Palm Springs Police Department.

Diaz was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where he later died, Woodward said.

Diaz, who was believed to be homeless, was not in a crosswalk when he was struck. Autry was not cited and did not undergo a blood alcohol test because it was clear she was not under the influence, Woodward said.

Investigators were awaiting autopsy results to see if Diaz was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

ALSO:

Skid Row Stabber conviction overturned by appeals court

Band members who blocked Hollywood Freeway charged with felonies

Carol Meyer, key L.A. County health official, announces retirement

-- Stephen Ceasar

Photo: Jackie Autry in 2002. Credit: Amy Sanchetta / Associated Press

Comments

[Cara D]

How was it 'believed' he was homeless? How was it 'clear' she was not under the influence?

[JC]

Only in America can the rich not get tested for drugs or alcohol and the dead man is tested. I was under the impression that in any traffic fatality a blood test is administered. Oh wait she was clearly not intoxicated my bad!

[Jess]

By "it was clear she wasn't under the influence" they meant to say she was a rich, white lady.

[Dreadnok4life]

JC. You have the wrong impression. I was involved in a fatal traffic accident and I was not tested either. And I'm far from rich. In my case a homeless woman ran into the path of my vehicle and she was stuck and killed. The police could tell I was obviously stone cold sober. I even offered to take a test but they said it wasn't necessary.

[jess]

i agree with jc. how ridiculous is it that they didn't test her and they're testing the dead man! what difference does it make if he was on drugs or alcohol??? he wasn't even in the crosswalk when he was struck. i'm sure she'll get a slap on the wrist and pay a fine and that will be that. bullcrap.

[WS]

Our pseudo royalty. She was no intoxicated so we take her word for it. Had it been Juan or LaShonna from the other side of the tracks then I bet you my last dollar they would have been tested. What a disgrace!

[Slamnaniganz]

People over 65 need to get tested by the DMV every two years.

[I Sir am a woman of wealth.]

I call 'BullSh...'

[Mark]

no homeless man on earth will get the widowed spouse of Autry put away in Palm Springs. They didn't even test her because it was obvious she wasn't under the influence... laughable man! ha!

[Lisa Byers]

JC, there is clearly no racial profiling here. This is a woman of status, class and high society who probably was educated in the finest private schools of America. She probably pays more taxes in one year than the alleged victim paid in his lifetime. She probably also donates her time and monies to charity, too.

While it is very tragic that a homeless person was killed, it is highly probable that he was unemployed and an addict of some sort, so drug testing for him is more than reasonable given the totality of the circumstances.

What is missing from this report is at what time did the accident occur and were there any witnesses. I can almost guarantee you that a person of Ms. Autry's class and status would not intentionally run over a homeless person. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Autry family and the Diaz family.

Lisa Byer's USC '81

[Jim]

Ridiculous - I hope the cops will be charging him with property damage to the rich ladies car.

[Scott Free]

I guess she is special and has special immunity privilidges. If it were you or I, we would have been locked up before we could blink. Don't you just love our judicial system, fair and balanced, yea right!

[RUJoking?!]

She probably was sober, but still, they should have tested her.

For the sake of appearances, not favoring the wealthy & powerful, if nothing else.

[Brad Edwards]

She was not tested? Or cited? She probably drove onto dinner or back home as well. Wow I want to drive over someone is Palm Springs too. I saw this happen in Bulgaria once but thought is was just because they do it there for sport. But Palm Springs? Had this been the poor dude running over Mrs. Autry do you think he would have not been tested? Or driven away? Nice job Palm Springs.

[Mike_from_SGV]

"Autry was not cited ...because it was clear she was not under the influence..."

Yes, it was clear that she was not under the influence because she is rich and famous. Anyone else would have been tested.

[dee gee]

probably yakking on her cellphone.....my question is......WHY ARE THE INVESTIGATORS TESTING THE DEAD GUY???

[Ellen]

wait....WHAT? I
t was clear she was not under the influence???
But the man who died is being tested? What's going on??

[SM]

She didn't break any laws, and they had no cause to test for DUI.

[EPK]

Let me get this straight. The victim who gets ran over is somehow responsible for this because he may have been a) homeless b) under the influence c) not in crosswalk d)Latino.
And rich white lady who killed him is not culpable because... why, again?

[the_turk]

Well Palm Springs is over run with crime so the police had better things to do than test her for drugs and alcohol. /sarcasm off.

[David]

JC- a field sobriety test was likely performed and she passed. If a person passes that, the officer has no reason to perform a blood or breathalyzer test. Also- how do you know she is rich? Seen her bank accounts have you or are you just jumping to more conclusions?

Only in America...

[Cesar Flores]

Yes , Get that dead man all the test needed to bring him guilty and at fault So the rich can stay free.He is homeless and may also be illegal.Very good police investigation and a nice way to keep your job.

[Chris]

JC, only in America can post things when they don't know what the heck they are talking about. There is no law or regulation that an ordinary individual must be tested for drugs or alcohol simply because they are involved in a fatal accident. Also, as the article noted, the individual was not in the crosswalk, which means he was jaywalking. Unless, the driver was speeding or otherwise driving recklessly, when an individual chooses to jaywalk, then they suffer the consequences and it is not the driver's fault. It is a sad case, and instead of posting self-righteous drivel; perhaps, you should simply keep all parties in your thoughts (and if you are religious, your prayers).

[JC]

David. How do you know the sun is going to rise tomorrow? A person can be under the influence and not show any outward signs! Again when there is a fatality I believe a test is mandatory!

[ed B]

Hey, David, you are right! How dare anyone make any assumptions whatsoever about the widow of ex-Angels' owner, one of the most famous film and country-music stars, who died in absolute wealth not too long ago!! That was an absurd assumption!
Sarcasm aside, I'm glad that I'm not the only Angeleno bothered, if not outraged, by what the way Palm Springs Police has shown blatant bias in favor of the rich and powerful and against the destitute. Further investigation of their handling of this situation is warranted.