Two other people, Michelle Castillo and June Castillo, were injured in the traffic collision.

Joshua Tree Crash Crash
Twentynine Palms Man Ricardo Cendejas Killed in Joshua Tree Hit-and-Run; Javious Vance Arrested

Joshua Tree, Calif. – The Sheriff-Coroner has identified the 54-year-old man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Joshua Tree on January 10 as Ricardo Lopez Cendejas. 

Cendejas was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries at about 8:44 p.m. the same day, according to the Sheriff-Coroner.

One of the involved drivers, identified as Javious Vance, first fled the scene but turned himself in the next day. Two other people, Michelle Castillo and June Castillo, were injured in the traffic collision.

Original story

Joshua Tree, Calif. – A Twentynine Palms man was killed, and two other people were injured following a hit-and-run traffic collision on Highway 62 in Joshua Tree Wednesday night, according to a police report. 

The crash happened at about 8 p.m. on January 10 on Highway 62, east of El Rey Avenue.

Authorities say a 2014 Dodge Challenger driven by Javious Vance, 32, of , was eastbound in the right lane of Highway 62 at a high rate of speed. At the same time, 27-year-old Michelle Castillo of Twentynine Palms was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Spark eastbound in the right lane at a slow rate of speed, ahead of the Dodge.

The Dodge crashed into the rear of the Chevrolet Spark. Vance fled the scene after hitting the Dodge.

A 54-year-old Twentynine Palms man, who was a passenger in the Chevrolet, was transported to Hi-Desert Medical Center where he died. Michelle Castillo and her second passenger, June Castillo, 53, of Twentynine Palms, were transported to Desert Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

On Thursday, January 11, Vance turned himself in at CHP's Morongo Basin office, where he was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.

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