William Frank Rodriguez, a 43-year-old founder and CEO of Silvercrest Advertising, was arrested on October 13, 2025, close to a year after a deadly hit-and-run accident happened in Cathedral City, California. Rodriguez, who is a resident of Palm Springs, is charged with homicide as well as other related crimes involving the October 11, 2024, collision that killed 60-year-old Christina Barrington.
KESQ
Incident Details
The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight at the intersection of Bankside Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive. Barrington was traveling in an east direction on her scooter when she was hit from the rear by a black 2021 Porsche. Barrington was thrown off the scooter, and the fleeing vehicle dragged the scooter a considerable distance before the driver sped away from the scene. Barrington died from her injuries, and her dog, also a part of the accident, was injured but lived and was reunited with her family later.
Cathedral City police initiated a full-scale investigation after the crash.
Through evidence gathering and analysis, they determined the suspect car to be a black 2021 Porsche. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office authorized charges, and warrants for Rodriguez’s arrest were issued. He was arrested on October 13 and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio. Rodriguez has a court date on October 15, 2025, at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. KESQ Community Impact
Silvercrest Advertising, which is headed by Rodriguez, has had a large presence in the Coachella Valley. The firm was a presenting sponsor of the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival and sponsored outdoor and VIP areas at Acrisure Arena. Rodriguez’s arrest has garnered a lot of attention as a result of his public profile and the seriousness of the charges.
Legal Proceedings
Rodriguez is serious with charges, such as homicide, arising from the fatal hit-and-run. The judicial process will continue over the next few weeks, with his date in court set for October 15. Stakeholders and the community wait with bated breath for the next development as the case goes through the courts.
