Updated March 15, 2023: The San Bernardino County Coroner has identified the deceased as , Katherine Loarie, a 45 year-old resident of Paolo Alto.
A traffic collision on Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree on Saturday (March 11) left one driver dead and three others with injuries. California Highway Patrol reports that a Nissan Rogue driven by a 45 year-old female from Palo Alto was stopped on the right shoulder on the eastbound side of Twentynine Palms Highyway near Sunview Road. There was also a 47 year-old male from Switzerland in the passenger seat of the Nissan.
The CHP’s report says that a Ford F-250 was driving eastbound on Twentynine Palms Highway, and as it approached the Nissan, the Nissan turned left from the shoulder of the road in front of the Ford. The front of the Ford collided with the left side of the Nissan at approximately 12:20 p.m.
The driver of the Nissan was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. The passenger of the Nissan suffered major injuries and was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center. The driver of the Ford, identified as Michael Reitz, a 68 year-old from Wisconsin, and his 67 year-old female passenger, both suffered moderate injuries and were transported to Hi Desert Medical Center.
The identity of the deceased woman is being withheld until her next of kin can be notified. The CHP is currently investigating the cause of the incident, though they say drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor.
