A woman suspected of driving under the influence died following a crash in Morongo Valley Thursday afternoon. The California Highway Patrol says Charles Coulter, 43, of Morongo Valley, was driving a 1994 teal Ford Ranger westbound on Highway 62 in Morongo Valley. As Coulter approached the intersection with Senilis Avenue about 12:57 p.m., he slowed to make a right-hand turn. Tracy Ostman, 57, of Yucca Valley, who was driving a 2005 gray Ford Ranger eastbound at a high rate of speed, crashed into the rear of Coulter’s truck. The impact pushed Coulter’s truck in a northwesterly direction onto Senilis Avenue, where it struck a 2006 Dodge Ram truck driven by Justin Houk, 35, of Morongo Valley. Ostman’s truck continued westbound and overturned several times. She was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the truck and pinned underneath it, and firefighters had to lift the truck to get to her.
CHP officers determined that Tracy Ostman was driving under the influence. Despite life-saving efforts, Ostman died at Desert Regional Medical Center at 5:05 p.m. Charles Coulter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Desert Regional. Justin Houk was not injured.
