Man identified after being swept away by flash flood

The coroner’s office identified a man who died after being swept away by a flash flood in Joshua Tree Tuesday afternoon.

Karl Jay Wyne, a 66 year old from Joshua Tree, was attempting to cross the wash near Sunny Vista Road in his Chevrolet Blazer after a large hail storm hit the high desert, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies said Wyne was driving south on Sunny Vista Road at about 4 p.m. Roadways in the area were flooded and bogged down with mud.

Several people stopped their vehicles on Sunny Vista Road, rather than crossing the flooded wash north of Melton Trail. Witnesses told investigating officers that Wyne drove southbound around the vehicles and went off the roadway as he tried to cross the wash.

Wyne’s SUV became stuck in the mud for several minutes. According to witnesses, a ‘wall of water’ rushed down the wash forcing the Blazer downstream into the open desert.

Deputies said the SUV overturned and was crushed about 100 yards away from the road. Wyne was killed from injuries sustained in the crash.