Authorities Investigate Fatal Solo Crash in Joshua Tree

(CNS) – An investigation was continuing Thursday into a fatal solo rollover crash in Joshua Tree that left a 44-year-old man dead and a female passenger with major injuries.

The crash occurred around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday when a man was driving northbound on Border Avenue by Sonora Road at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle, according to Officer Michael Radford with the California Highway Patrol.

Radford said the man steered his vehicle, a 2011 Lexus IS 350, to the right and it rolled over multiple times. The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle, Radford said. The man was taken to Hi Desert Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The San Bernardino County coroner’s office identified him as Loren M. Bull of Joshua Tree.

A passenger in his vehicle, 34-year-old Sierra Scott, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs with major injuries, Radford said.

It was unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.

The fatal crash was the fourth to occur in the Morongo Basin in the past two months that resulted in the death of an occupant not wearing a seatbelt, according to Radford.

"We would like to remind everyone to wear their seatbelt and ensure everyone inside of their vehicle wears a seatbelt or is in a child safety seat every trip," Radford said in a statement. "It is the law, and it saves lives."

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