[07-25-2024] San Bernardino County, CA – Female Passenger Seriously Injured Following Two Collisions Involving DUI in Apple Valley

A female passenger was seriously injured following two collisions involving a DUI in Apple Valley on Thursday evening, July 25, 2024.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the incidents happened around 7:30 p.m. near State Route 18, close to Horseman’s Center Park.

CHP reported that a 2007 Cadillac DTS with two persons was traveling along Bear Valley Road, approaching SR-18, when its driver suddenly turned onto the freeway and hurriedly pulled to the right shoulder. The driver then executed an illegal U-turn, resulting in a crash with a 2016 Kia Optima driven by an unnamed 26-year-old man from Lucerne Valley.

Immediately following the first collision, the Cadillac driver fled the scene toward westbound SR-18. Not long after, the vehicle got into another crash, with the driver losing control as it made its way along the dirt shoulder near Horseman’s Center. The Cadillac then overturned, ejecting one of its occupants fully.

The ejected passenger, a 20-year-old female, suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Loma Linda Medical Center for immediate medical care. The victim’s identity and current condition are undisclosed.

Meanwhile, the driver, later identified as 22-year-old Kaleb H. from Barstow, managed to extricate himself from the wreckage and was attended to by responding emergency personnel. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto for a suspected DUI.

It is not immediately known if anyone from the two other vehicles involved was injured. The two vehicular crashes are still under investigation. 

Potential witnesses to either collision are encouraged to contact the authorities at 760-241-1186.