On March 11th, at approximately 12:20 p.m., a crash in Joshua Tree resulted in a fatality. A 45 year old female from Palo Alto driving a 2023 Nissan Rogue. She was stopped on the right shoulder of eastbound State Route 62, east of Sunview Road. Michael Reitz, a 68 year old male from Muskego Wisconsin was driving a 2018 Ford F-250 eastbound on SR-62, approaching the Nissan. The driver of the Nissan turned left front from the shoulder directly in front of the Ford. The front of the Ford struck the left side of the Nissan.
The driver of the Nissan was pronounced deceased on scene. A 47 year old male passenger from Switzerland that was in the Nissan was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center with major injuries. Reitz and a 67 year old female passenger in the Ford were transported to Hi Desert Medical Center with moderate injuries. The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office should be contacted for the identity of the deceased party.
This crash is still under investigation. Alcohol and/or drugs did not appear to be a factor.