LUCERNE VALLEY, CA, (Pain In The Pass) >> Two people who were killed and one injured in Lucerne Valley by a suspected DUI driver who has been identified.
Jesus Gallardo Martin, 59 a resident of Lucerne Valley is under arrest on suspicion of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter. For allegedly driving while intoxicated in a two vehicle crash that killed two Lucerne Valley 16-year-old teenage girls last Friday.
Martin is now in custody on suspicions tied to three charges, according to the California Highway Patrol press release; driving under the influence causing death to another person; driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or greater causing death to another person; and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
An officer has been present 24/7 with Martin at Loma Linda University Medical Center since Saturday as he has been in and out of surgeries. Martin has not been able to speak as of Wednesday night CHP said.
CHP investigators finished their preliminary investigation of the crash on Wednesday. The CHP will bring its findings to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday to consult the DA on next step.
CHP’s Barstow Office Press Released the crash location on Highway 247, at its intersection with Camp Rock Road, shortly before 8:20pm. On friday April 8, 2022. According to the release, which says Martin was driving a 1998 Ford Expedition south on Camp Rock Road while Christy Rees, was driving the Honda CRV east on the highway.
Investigators allege that as Reese proceeded through the intersection on Hwy 247, Martin “failed to stop at a posted stop sign, resulting in the front of the Ford Expedition colliding with the left side of the Honda CRV.”
“This impact caused the Honda CRV to overturn into the open desert area south of Hwy 247,” the CHP release continued. “As a result of this crash, both juvenile passengers of the Honda CRV sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased on scene.”
Martin was flown to Loma Linda Medical Center and Reese was flown to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Reeses condition is getting better and she is alert now as of Thursday.
Martin will be booked into jail once he becomes medically cleared.
No further details have been provided at this time. Please check for updates on this incident.
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