The California Highway Patrol has said alcohol was a factor in a sand-rail crash Friday night that sent two men to the hospital with major injuries. About 10:20 p.m., John Shackleford, 46, of Twentynine Palms, was driving in the open desert of the Sunfair Dry Lake Bed at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the sand rail making a turn, the dune buggy rolled over, throwing Shackleford and his passenger, Jason Humenik, 35, of Yucca Valley, from the vehicle. Neither man was wearing a helmet or the sand rail’s five-point harness. Humenik lost consciousness in the crash and suffered severe head and spinal injuries; Shackleford also had major injuries. Both men were airlifted to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. Shackleford is expected to be arrested for felony driving under the influence.
