California Highway Patrol (CHP) Public Information Officer Matt Napier was able to release information regarding a fatality that occurred Sunday, May 9.

The CHP’s Multiagency Accident Investigation Team was called out to investigate this collision. The below is information received by the Town Crier from the CHP.

At 2:30 p.m., Nathan Daniel McConnell, 39, of Joshua Tree, was driving his silver 2001 Isuzu Rodeo northbound on Highway 243 469 feet north of Miller Ranch Road at a speed between 73 and 79 mph.

Charles James Shacklock, 31, of New Springfield, Ohio, was driving southbound on Highway 243 at an unknown speed in a black 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. Two passengers were in Shacklock’s vehicle: Josh Healey, 31, of Youngstown, Ohio, and Tonya Kaye Foster, 23, of Burghill, Ohio.

Due to McConnell’s speed, he was unable to negotiate a left-hand curve and applied the brake while entering the curve. He lost control, rotated clockwise toward the east shoulder ascending a slope. McConnell rotated the wheel the other direction to correct, coming down the slope, traveling through two lanes of traffic counterclockwise into the Outlander.

The force of impact into the Outlander caused the vehicle to travel off the road through a wooden sign into a fence coming to a rest, blocking the southbound lane and the shoulder.

Shacklock was pronounced deceased at the scene. Healey was transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to Desert Regional Medical Center for major injuries. Foster was transported by Mercy Air also to Desert Regional Medical Center for major injuries. McConnell was transported by AMR to Desert Regional Medical Center for possible injuries and complaint of pain.

CHP is recommending McConnell be charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.