There were two collisions on Highway 243 last week, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Information Officer Matt Napier.
On May 30 at 7:05 p.m. Dorian Espinoza, 22 of Twentynine Palms was driving his silver 2007 Nissan 315Z northbound on Highway 243 half a mile north of Mellor Ranch Road at a stated speed of 60 mph when, due to his unsafe speed, he was unable to maintain control of his vehicle.
Espinoza applied the brakes causing the vehicle to fishtail and lose traction, traveling into the dirt shoulder on the right-hand side of the road. Espinoza then overcorrected causing him to cross into oncoming lanes. Francisco Chavez Almonte, 56 of Idyllwild, was driving his black 2005 GMC Envoy southbound on Highway 243 at approximately 35-40 mph and was unable to avoid Espinoza, broadsiding him.
Both vehicles were towed by Idyllwild Garage. Almonte and his passenger, and Espinoza and his passenger, were all transported by AMR to Desert Regional Medical Center with possible injuries.
On June 4 at 4:10 a.m., Robert Vogtle, 47 of Vallejo, was traveling northbound on Highway 243 north of Plantation Drive at a stated speed of 35 mph in his white 2016 Mercedes c300. For unknown reason, he crossed into the southbound lane continuing into a dirt turnout, plummeting over the hillside and causing him to overturn. Vogtle told CHP his tire blew out causing him to lose control. However, according to CHP, all four tires were inflated upon inspection. Vogtle was transported by AMR to Desert Regional Medical Center for minor injuries. His vehicle was towed by Idyllwild Garage.
