Speeding and reckless driving may have been factors in a crash Sunday night that killed a Twentynine Palms man. Witnesses told the California Highway Patrol that Michael Calvert Jr., 32, the driver of a blue 1999 Chevy Silverado, who was traveling eastbound on Highway 62, was driving recklessly, speeding, and driving in the westbound lanes. For unknown reasons, Calvert crashed into the metal guard rail separating the east- and westbound lanes of the highway east of Samel Road. The force of the collision caused the pickup truck to roll over several times. Michael Calvert Jr., who was not wearing his seatbelt, was thrown from the truck and suffered fatal injuries. His truck came to rest blocking both eastbound lanes of the highway and the eastbound lanes were shut down during the investigation. Debris from the collision struck the windshield of a gray 2019 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Gina Hannah, 28, of Yucca Valley. She was uninjured. It’s not known yet if drugs or alcohol were also a factor in the crash. The family released the name of Michael Calvert Jr. to Z107.7.
