An alleged drunk driver crashed into a power pole in Twentynine Palms early Saturday morning, knocking out power for residents for about 16 hours. According to a Sheriff’s report, about 1:15 Saturday morning, Daniel Veith crashed his 1991 Honda into a power pole near Clare Avenue and Sullivan Road. Witnesses reported seeing flames following the crash. Veith was taken by Morongo Basin Ambulance to Hi-Desert Medical Center where he was cited for allegedly driving under the influence and released later that morning. Power was not restored to affected residents until about 5:30 Saturday evening, with temperatures reaching about 100 degrees.
A Twentynine Palms man was arrested following a crash Friday night which injured a woman. According to a Sheriff’s report, two vehicles crashed at the intersection of Hatch Road and Manzanita about 9:30 Friday night. A passenger in one of the vehicles was injured and was taken to a local hospital. Jerrod Smith, 30, was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail and released on $100,000 bail the next morning.
