Full Notification

DATE/TIME: May 8, 2024, at 8:01 p.m.

INCIDENT: Felony DUI

LOCATION:  Intersection of Adobe Road and Didsbury Road, Twentynine Palms

SUSPECT(S): Blake Derrick Barton, 40-year-old male resident of Twentynine Palms

VICTIM(S):  Roselyn Beatris Lemus, 20-year-old female resident of Bridgeport, CT 


SUMMARY: 
On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at approximately 8:01 p.m., deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station responded to the intersection of  Adobe Road and Didsbury Road in Twentynine Palms following a report of a two-vehicle traffic collision resulting in injuries and a downed electrical power pole. 

Deputies determined Barton, the driver of a Mercedes CLK55 AMG, and Lemus, the driver of a Toyota Rav4, were both traveling northbound on Adobe Road. Barton was traveling at a high speed and collided into the rear driver's side of the Rav4. The force of the collision caused Lemus' Rav4 to go off the roadway and into the dirt shoulder. Barton's CLK55 spun and continued approximately another 600 feet, struck an Edison pole, and continued approximately another 60 feet where it came to rest in a desert field, east of Adobe Road. The force of the collsion sheared the bottom of the pole, causing a loss of power to Edison customers, and severed a Spectrum cable line, causing a loss of internet access to Spectrum customers.

Immediately after the collision, Barton attempted to flee the scene with no attempt to exchange information with the other driver. However, multiple bystanders who witnessed the crash stopped and detained Barton until deputies arrived. Barton sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment. Lemus sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Robert E. Bush Naval Hosiptal for treatment. 

City of Twentynine Palms Public Works closed all lanes of Adobe Road and diverted traffic for several hours while utility crews and deputies worked in the roadway. 

At the conclusion of the investigation, deputies determined Barton was driving under the influence of alcohol and caused a collision resulting in injury.  

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Montes De Oca of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station at (760) 366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com  

Refer: Deputy Montes De Oca

Station: Morongo Basin Station

Phone No. (760) 366-4175

Case No. 202400669

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department