SUV ROLLOVER SHOWS SEAT BELT VALUE

A man who was not wearing his seatbelt suffered major injuries when he was ejected from the vehicle he was riding in during a crash Thursday evening. According to the California Highway Patrol, Toa Solomona, 40, of Twentynine Palms, was driving a 2004 Ford F150 4-door pick-up truck in the number 2 westbound lane of Highway 62. About 5:35 p.m., just east of Rotary Way, Toa allowed the vehicle to drift to the right shoulder, and then over-corrected by turning the wheel sharply to the left. Toa then lost control of the truck, which struck a telephone pole and overturned at least three times, landing in the center of the highway. Toa, and a 10-year-old boy in back seat of the truck, were wearing their seatbelts and were taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center with minor injuries. Daniel Lopez, 35, a front-seat passenger in the truck, was thrown from the truck and suffered major injuries. Due to the high winds, he was not able to be flown to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs so was taken by ground ambulance. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash. The CHP reminds residents of how seatbelts can reduce the seriousness of injuries and save lives.