California Highway Patrol officers investigate a traffic collision which resulted in the death of pedestrian Danny Lee Plotner, 65. Peter Day / The Leader
By Peter Day
Staff Writer
A pedestrian died as the result of an early morning collision on Thursday, Nov. 14 on Highway 18 just east of Custer Avenue.
The victim has been identified as Danny Lee Plotner, 65, of Lucerne Valley.
Plotner was struck by a Jeep while apparently attempting to cross the Highway. Paramedics arrived on the scene and pronounced Plotner deceased at 5:56 a.m., according to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s office.
The driver of the vehicle, who stopped immediately after the collision, was traveling approximately 50 to 55 miles per hour at the time of the collision, according to CHP Officer Ed Reyes.
Reyes estimated the time of the incident at around 5:45 a.m., which could have played a role due to limited visibility.
“It’s still kind of dark at that time,” he said.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.
Highway 18 from Custer Avenue to Cody Road was shut down to through traffic for several hours beginning at 6:15 a.m. Caltrans rerouted Highway 18 traffic to a dirt portion of Sage.
Thursday’s death was the second traffic-related fatality in a week in Lucerne Valley. Last week, Angelo “Andy” Azzato was killed by a hit-and-run driver as he was riding his bike eastbound on Highway 247 at Post Office Road.