Twentynine Palms, CA— Friday Afternoon a 12 year old 29 Palms juvenile was riding his scooter on Baseline Road at Kellogg Ave in the Hanson Track area of 29 Palms. The juvenile was struck by an older midsize truck driven by an unknown suspect driver. The suspect driver fled the scene after the collision. The juvenile was transported to High Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree and then air-lifted by Mercy Air to Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda with major injuries.
Deputies and investigators from the Morongo Basin Station spend the next 48 hours conducting an intensive search for the vehicle. On Friday, April 27th, a resident of Twentynine Palms contacted the Sheriff’s Department with information on the suspect vehicle. Deputy Shaunna Ables and Detective Jennifer Woods followed up on this lead, which lead them to a residence on Woodward Avenue in Twentynine Palms, just east of the accident location. After conducting an investigation, Deputy Ables was then led to a residence on Maricopa Avenue in Twentynine Palms where she located a vehicle hidden from sight. The vehicle had front end damage consistent with a recent traffic collision.
In the meantime, Detective Woods interviewed a 42 year old Hispanic male, later identified as Dennis Martinez, and at the end of this interview, placed him under arrest for VC200001 Hit and Run Causing Injury. He is currently in custody at the Morongo Basin Jail without bail.
The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station would like to thank those who called in possible tips on the identity of the suspect vehicle. The tips paid off and the vehicle and suspect were located quickly.
The 12 year old victim is listed in critical, yet stable, condition.
![[UNSET]](http://www.vote29.com/newmyblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UNSET-75x75.jpg "Local Smoke Shops Shut Down By Sheriff’s Department")
Let’s keep this 12 year old in our prayers.