UPDATE: Anza man who died after ejected from car ID’d

PALM DESERT — Officials have identified a man who died after he was ejected from his vehicle in a single-vehicle rollover Friday night, July 20. The victim was not wearing his seat belt when his vehicle overturned, according to CHP.

The fatal wreck happened near the Bighorn Golf Course on Highway 74, between Palowet Dr. and Cahuilla Way, in Palm Desert.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials identified yesterday Keith Marlin, 44, of Anza, as the man who died in the crash. A coroner’s release indicated the victim succumbed to his injuries about nine minutes after the accident happened and was pronounced deceased at 9:28 p.m.

Keith Marlin died after he was ejected from his Mercedes-Benz while driving on Hwy. 371. Tim Robbins photo

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the accident at 9:19 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol Officer Jackie Quintero. 911 callers reported a sedan had veered off the highway and overturned, ejecting the driver.

Officers investigating the crash determined Marlin was driving his 1998 E320 Mercedes-Benz when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a metal fence.

The Mercedes overturned and crashed into a ravine near the Art Smith Trailhead, according to Quintero. Marlin’s vehicle ended up about 30 feet from the roadway.

The victim, who was the sole occupant of his vehicle, sustained major traumatic injuries and died at the scene.

Speed is suspected to have been a cause in the crash and officials have not yet ruled out alcohol or drug intoxication as possible contributing factors.

CHP’s accident investigation is ongoing.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.