Man Who Died On Palm Springs Trail ID'd As Dr. Frank Ercoli

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A man who was pronounced dead Tuesday on the Frank Bogert Trailhead in Palm Springs was a top trauma surgeon at Desert Regional Medical Center, officials have confirmed.

Dr. Frank Ercoli suffered an undisclosed injury on the trailhead at 8:45 a.m. and died just minutes later, according to a report from the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

There is no immediate indication from the Palm Springs Police Department nor the coroner's bureau that the 67-year-old's death involved foul play.

Ercoli was board-certified in surgery and surgical critical care and had served as medical director at the hospital's G. A. Richards Trauma Center since it opened in 1993, according to a bio posted on the Desert Regional Medical Center website.

During that time, Ercoli treated more than 50,000 injured or critically ill patients, the bio stated.

The trauma center is the only one in the southeast sector of Southern California, covering thousands of square miles. The center receives just over 2,000 patients a year from throughout the area, and handles approximately 700 helicopter arrivals every year, according to the bio.

"Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn over the death of Dr. Frank Ercoli," the Palm Springs Police Department posted earlier this week on social media. "Dr. Ercoli was not only one of the most amazing trauma surgeons around, but he was a friend to everyone here at Palm Springs PD. Dr. Ercoli has saved countless lives and was one of the most remarkable people you could ever meet. We send our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in this difficult time."