Truck drives into crowd in sand dunes, kills one

A driver lost control of his vehicle and drove into a crowd of people leaving one dead and several injured in Glamis, Calif. on Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities said at about 3:19 p.m. Friday, 29-year-old Andrew Solis, of Lynwood, Calif., was driving his 1995 Toyota Tacoma in the open desert of the Imperial Sand Dune area of the “Sand Drags”. CHP officials said the driver lost control of his vehicle and drove into the crowd of people along the area who were watching the races.

The vehicle struck seven adults, killing 57-year-old Pamela Kittrell, of Mesa, Ariz.

The others injured included a 15-year-old boy from Queen Creek, Ariz. who suffered injuries to his ribs and was flown to Desert Regional Medical Center.

Twenty-six-year-old Cassidy Holtfreter, of Gilbert, Ariz., was transported to Pioneers Memorial Hospital (PMH) with a laceration to her head. Gilbert resident Andrew Gerardy, 30, was transported to PMH with a complaint of pain.

Thirty-six-year-old Nicole Richardson, of Queen Creek, was flown out for a complaint of pain. Chad Richardson, 36, also a Queen Creek resident, 59-year-old Roger Kittrell, and 29-year-old Douglass Kittrell, of Mesa, Ariz., all complained of pain but refused transportation.

CHP officials warn pedestrians to avoid this area of the desert and stay as far back as possible.

The collision remains under investigation.