Two men injured in rollover crash

The California Highway Patrol said one man was flown to the hospital and another man was injured following a rollover crash that lead to a vehicle fire.

CHP said Friday at 5:20 a.m. Jefferson William Greenwood was driving his 1988 Chevy Nova on eastbound Interstate 8, just east of Inkopah Road, at about 65 to 70 miles per hour, in the left passing lane, while wearing his seatbelt.

Officers said rding with Greenwood was his friend, Hans Stephen Jenkins who was seated as the right front passenger. Greenwood relayed at the scene that Jenkins was not wearing a seatbelt at the time.

CHP said that for an undetermined reason, Greenwood made an unsafe turning movement to the left and onto the dirt shoulder. Greenwood lost control of his vehicle as it traveled down a descending dirt embankment. Greenwood was unable to regain control as the vehicle overturned down the embankment and into the dirt center divide.

During the event, Jenkins was ejected and struck the ground within the dirt center divide. Greenwood remained in the vehicle due to his worn seatbelt. After this collision stabilized the vehicle came to rest on its wheels in the dirt center divide. CHP said the vehicle then caught fire. Greenwood was able to exit the vehicle on his own and went to assist Jenkins. The vehicle was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived.

Due to this rollover being a traffic collision, Jenkins sustained blunt force trauma to his head. He was life flown to Desert Regional Hospital for care of his injuries. Greenwood refused medical assistance at the scene with only complaint of pain to his head.

DUI was not determined not to be a factor in this major injury traffic collision.