Updated Friday, 2:30 p.m.
The California Highway Patrol has released a few additional details about Friday morning’s fatal crash in Yucca Valley. According to CHP Officer Randy O’Brien, a white 193 Toyota Tacoma, driven by an unidentified 57-year-old Joshua Tree man, was traveling westbound on Alta Loma at 6:58 a.m. at about 60 miles per hour. Lars Dahlen, 62, of Yucca Valley, was driving a school bus with about 40 students bound for La Contenta Middle School eastbound on Yucca Trail. O’Brien said that Dahlen made a left turn onto northbound La Contenta Avenue directly into the path of the pick-up truck, causing a head-on collision. The driver and sole occupant of the truck was killed. Four students in the bus received minor injuries; two were taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center; two were treated at the scene. Another bus at the intersection on La Contenta—that was leaving the school—was hit by debris but no students on that bus were injured. The name of the driver killed in the crash has not been released yet by the coroner pending notification of next of kin. Any witnesses who have not yet been contacted by the CHP should call 760-366-3707.
