According to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Bell, at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec 4, Brian Vasquez, 26 of La Quinta, was driving his white 2016 Subaru STI northbound on Highway 243 north of Keenwild Forest Service Station when the right side of the vehicle left the roadway, causing him to lose control and run into a rock. Vasquez was uninjured.
Photo by Jenny Kirchner

Two crashes, both on Sunday, Dec. 4, took place on Hill roads over the last week.

At 11:27 a.m., Christopher Wrenn, 24, of Aguanga, was riding his black 2014 Honda street bike east on Highway 371, a half mile west of the intersection with Highway 74 when, while negotiating a left-hand curve, he crossed over the double-yellow lines attempting to pass a slow-moving vehicle also heading eastbound. 

As he entered the opposing lane of traffic, he saw a blue sedan coming directly toward him. In order to avoid a head-on collision, Wrenn swerved sharply to the right and laid his bike down on the side of the roadway. He was transported by ground ambulance to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage complaining of pain in the chest and left shoulder. 

At 12:27 p.m., Brian Vasquez, 27, of La Quinta, was driving his 2016 white Subaru WRX STI north on Highway 243, a half-mile north of the intersection with Highway 74 in Mountain Center, when in executing a left-hand curve, he lost control and ran off the roadway coming to rest against rocks on the embankment. He was not injured and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.