The Sheriff’s Department has identified the driver killed in a crash with a patrol car Tuesday evening in Twentynine Palms. Deputy Erdem Gorgulu, 38, was driving his 2010 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car east on Highway 62, in response to a call for back-up, at 7:31 p.m. Luc Van Bui, 64, of Twentynine Palms was driving his 2002 Toyota Camry north on Encelia Avenue. As Gorgulu approached Encelia Avenue, Bui stopped at the intersection and then proceeded onto the highway, directly in front of Gorgulu. The front bumper of Gorgulu’s patrol car struck Bui driver’s side door. Bui suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics. Gorgulu was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs with a broken leg and other minor injuries. Investigators do not believe that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.
