Big Bear, Tuesday, June 17, 2014 – At 2:47pm this afternoon, the Big Bear Sheriff’s Department alerted KBHR of a road closure due to an accident on Highway 18 from Baldwin Lane to Lucerne Valley. Around 1:45pm today, a deputy of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station was patrolling the area of E. Shay Road and N. Palamino Road in Baldwin Lake and received an electronic automatic license plate reader notification of a possible stolen vehicle. The vehicle confirmed stolen is a 2014 silver Hyundai Elantra, occupied by three subjects. The driver failed to yield to an attempted vehicle stop, initiating a high speed pursuit with police. Reaching speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour, the driver continued down Highway 18 towards Lucerne Valley crossing the double yellow line multiple times. The driver then lost control of the vehicle in front of the Mitsubishi Plant, causing it to roll over. Injuries were sustained by all three occupants of the stolen vehicle.
Due to this on-going investigation, Highway 18 will remain closed from Baldwin Lake to Lucerne Valley in both directions and is expected to re-open as early as 6pm tonight and as late as 8pm, according to the Big Bear Sheriff’s Department. Downbound traffic is being turned around on Highway 18 at Delta Way. Motorists are advised to use Highway 330 through Highland or Highway 38 through Redlands for travel to and from the Big Bear area.
