The identity of the victims that died in two separate Sunday afternoon crashes have been released.

At about 2:30 p.m. Sunday a three-vehicle crash on Dogwood Road just north of Ralph Road claimed the life of 26-year-old Manuel Ernesto Gomez Gonzales of Cathedral City. Gomez was the driver of a Kia Forte that was southbound on Dogwood when he crossed the center line and collided with a northbound pick-up truck driven by Fernando Buenrostro, 57, of Brawley. Another pick-up truck, driven by 54-year-old Araceli Osuna.  that was also northbound collided with the other two vehicles. Gomez was pronounced dead at the scene. Buenrostro and Osuna both sustained minor injuries. 

A 20-year-old woman from Rahway, New Jersey died Sunday afternoon when the Kia Forte she was driving was struck by a pick-up truck. The accident occurred at about 5:53 p.m. Sunday on eastbound Interstate 8 west of Dunaway Road. Aanesha Shanty Connor was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The driver of the pick-up truck was identified as 24-year old Joseph Zhou of San Marco, California. Zhou was westbound on the freeway when he crossed over the center median and collided head on with the Connor car. Zhou sustained major injuries and was flown to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. According to the California Highway Patrol, Zhou was placed under arrest and charged with Felony Driving Under the Influence and Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated.