A man suspected of driving under the influence was injured following a crash in Twentynine Palms Saturday that briefly closed the highway. About 11:45 a.m., witnesses reported that a speeding black Ford pick-up truck hit a fire hydrant, a caution sign, and a light pole near Encelia Avenue in Twentynine Palms, and the driver kept traveling westbound on the highway. Several witnesses called 911 to report the driver was speeding and swerving before the driver hit an embankment and flipped over onto its roof. The collision with the hydrant caused water to spray and flood the road; and the collision with the light pole caused the power lines to fall into the street. Traffic was diverted onto side streets for about an hour until water and power crews could repair the damage. The driver—who has not yet been identified—was injured in the crash and taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs for treatment. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash.
