On October 4th, at approximately 4:55 p.m., a crash resulted in a fatality in Landers. A 29 year old male from Landers was driving a 2006 Nissan Frontier northbound on State Route 247 near Reche Road, behind another vehicle. The driver began illegally passing the vehicle within the southbound lane of SR-247. A vehicle north of the Nissan was traveling southbound on SR-247, approaching the Nissan. After the Nissan passed the vehicle in the northbound lane, the driver of the Nissan steered to the right, across the northbound lane, onto the shoulder and into the open desert south of Valli Hi Drive. The Nissan overturned, the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected during the crash. The Nissan then struck a fire hydrant.
The driver of the Nissan was transported by ambulance to Hi Desert Medical Center. He was then transported by helicopter to Desert Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. The Riverside 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 appear to have been a factor.
