PEDESTRIAN HIT CROSSING HIGHWAY OUTSIDE CROSSWALK IN JOSHUA TREE IDENTIFIED

The California Highway Patrol has released its report on the pedestrian versus vehicle crash in Joshua Tree Thursday evening. According to the report, Ernest Ale, 56, of Idlywild, was driving a 1993 Dodge Ram westbound on Highway 62 just before 6:30 p.m. As he approached Veterans Way, he entered the center turn lane at about 20 miles per hour. At the same time, David White, 52, of La Puente, was crossing the highway southbound between Veterans Way and Sunset Road. The CHP report states that White, who was wearing dark-colored clothing, was not in a cross walk nor did he yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. Ale’s truck collided with White, and White was thrown in a southwesterly direction, landing in the center turn lane. Ale stopped near the collision and waited for law enforcement. David White suffered head trauma and facial lacerations; he was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center and then flown to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs.