The Sheriff’s Department has released the preliminary investigation into a 3-car double fatal crash Sunday night (October 20) that caused a 15 ½ hour closure of State Route 62. Deputy Sheriff Shane Crowl said about 7:11 p.m., deputies from the Morongo Basin Station responded to Twentynine Palms Highway near Peterson Road, just East of Copper Mountain College, for a three-vehicle traffic collision. Deputies discovered a Toyota travelling east on the Highway crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with an Audi travelling west. A Dodge travelling west collided with debris from the collision and ran off the road. An unidentified male passenger of the Toyota was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene. An unidentifie male passenger of the Audi was also pronounced deceased at the scene. Five other vehicle occupants were transported to surrounding hospitals via air and ground transport. The Morongo Basin Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) responded and the investigation is ongoing. The subsequent closure of the Highway caused traffic to be diverted through Joshua Tree National Park and dirt roads to the North. The victims’ identifications are being withheld pending notification of family by the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.
