On October 19, at approximately 6:45 p.m., a two-vehicle traffic crash resulted in minor to major injuries to two adults and eight juveniles. A 40-year-old male from Yucca Valley was driving a 1998 Honda Accord westbound on SR-62, approaching Hillview Road. A 37-year-old male from Twentynine Palms was driving a 2016 Kia Sedona mini van eastbound on SR-62 approaching Hillview Road at an approximate speed of 45 miles per hour. The driver of the Honda turned left directly into the path of the Kia and was broadsided on the right side by the front of the Kia. The Kia overturned after the crash, before coming to rest on its wheels. The Honda sustained major damage.
The Honda was occupied by the adult driver and four juveniles between the ages of seven and sixteen. The three juveniles seated in the rear seat of the Honda were unrestrained and two were ejected from the vehicle during the crash. The two ejected juveniles were transported by helicopter to Loma Linda University Hospital with major injuries. The other injured juveniles were taken by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center.
The Kia was occupied by the adult male driver, an adult female passenger, and four juveniles between the ages of eight months and six years old. All the occupants in the Kia were wearing their safety restraints and all four children were restrained in the proper car seats or booster seats. The adult driver and passenger sustained moderate to major injuries and all four children were transported for precautionary reasons to Desert Regional Medical.
This crash is still under investigation. Alcohol and/or drugs were not a factor in this collision. We would like to remind everyone to wear their seatbelt and ensure everyone inside of their vehicle wears a seatbelt or is in a child safety seat every trip.
