A traffic collision between two cars in downtown Joshua Tree left two adults and eight juveniles with minor and major injuries According to the CHP, Wednesday evening (October 19). At about 6:45 p.m., a Honda Accord driving westbound on Highway 62. made a left turn near Hillview road, where it crossed directly into the path of a Kia Sedona mini-van. The Kia broadsided the Honda, and the Kia overturned during the crash, ultimately coming to rest back on its wheels. The Honda sustained major damage as well.
Medics from Morongo Basin Ambulance Association triaged the scene and rescued one passenger who was trapped in the wreckage. Five ground ambulances an two air ambulance were used to transport patients to nearby medical facilities.
The Honda was driven by a 40 year-old man from Yucca Valley, and had four juvenile passengers between the ages of seven and sixteen. The three juveniles in the back seat were not properly secured, and two were ejected from the vehicle during the collision, and airlifted to Loma Linda University with major injuries. The two juveniles who were not ejected were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center.
The driver of the Kia was a 37 year-old man from Twentynine Palms, and the passengers were an adult female and four juveniles, all of whom were properly secured with seatbelts and car seats. The adult driver and passenger sustained moderate to major injuries and all four children were transported for precautionary reasons to Desert Regional Medical.
The crash is still under investigation, though drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor.
Witnesses say that the highway was at least partially shut down by the California Highway Patrol.
