Two San Bernardino County deputies in patrol vehicles collided New Year's Day on State Route 62 between Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms, a California Highway Patrol sergeant said Thursday.
The collision occurred Wednesday on SR 62 east of Arizona Avenue, Sgt. W. L. Green of the Morongo Basin CHP said in a statement.
Dispatchers with CHP received a 9-1-1 call about the collision at 6:35 p.m. Jan. 1, Green said.
Both deputies had been assigned to patrol in the Twentynine Palms area, and they were driving separate vehicles west on SR 62, "in the #1 lane returning to the Morongo Basin Station near the end of their shift," Green said.
"East of Arizona Avenue, the trailing patrol vehicle inadvertently overtook the lead vehicle and a collision occurred sending both vehicles out of control," Green said.
"The lead patrol vehicle entered into a side skid, crossed the eastbound lanes, and overturned in the open desert on the south side of SR 62," Green said. "The trailing vehicle skidded to a stop on the north shoulder of SR 62."
Both deputies were taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, which is just west of Arizona Avenue, Green said. The deputies were treated for minor injuries and released.
"Traffic bypassed the scene utilizing adjacent dirt roads which allowed for investigation, recovery of the vehicles and clean-up of the highway," Green said.
Officer R. Swanson of the California Highway Patrol was assigned to investigate the collision and determine the cause, Green said. Anyone with more info was urged to call the Morongo Basin CHP at (760) 366-3707.
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