We have a little more information about the Twentynine Palms man who was killed in Twentynine Palms Thursday night while riding his bicycle. According to the California Highway Patrol, the 32-year-old man—who has been identified as Mickey Mroz—was riding a BMX-style bike eastbound along the north shoulder of Valle Vista Road about 8:30 p.m. The CHP says Ann Marie Platzke, 31, of Twentynine Palms, was driving her 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt westbound on Valle Vista, west of Sherman Hoyt Road, when the man attempted to cross the road directly in front of Platzke. Platzke’s car struck the bicyclist, who was thrown onto the south shoulder of the road where he sustained fatal injuries. Platzke and her 8-year-old daughter were uninjured. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the collision on the part of the bicyclist, as an open container was found near his body. The CHP is investigating the crash.
The coroner’s office has released the name of the victim who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Yucca Valley Thursday night. David Hayes, 59, of Yucca Valley, was riding his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle westbound about 10:15 on Highway 62 near Wamego Trail when he was rear-ended—for unknown reasons—by Christopher Hannon, 22, also of Yucca Valley, who was driving a 2010 Dodge Charger. Hayes was thrown onto the Charger’s windshield, and when the car crashed into a light pole, Hayes was thrown off the car. Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Investigation Team is conducting the investigation into the collision.
