One man is dead and another critically injured following a two-vehicle crash in Joshua Tree Wednesday morning. According to the California Highway Patrol, Bronson White, 62, of Twentynine Palms, was driving a 2003 Ford Thunderbird westbound on Highway 62. About 10:43 a.m., for unknown reasons White’s car drifted onto the north shoulder of the highway, just west of California Avenue. White lost control and turned the wheel of the Thunderbird to the left; the car began to spin and crossed all lanes of traffic before the right front of the car struck the left front of a Toyota pickup truck traveling eastbound on the highway. After the collision, both vehicles came to rest in the number 2 lane and south shoulder of the highway. Firefighters from Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Yucca Mesa had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the pickup truck driver, who was identified only as being in his 70s, pending notification of next of kin. The truck driver was taken by Morongo Basin Ambulance to Hi-Desert Medical Center and then flown to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs where he was pronounced deceased. Bronson White also suffered critical injuries and was taken by MBA to Hi-Desert Medical Center. Seatbelts were used by both drivers. Fire and paramedic crews were on scene for about 2 ½ hours. The exact cause of this crash is still under investigation by CHP Officer Griffin.
