A few weeks ago, a Spring Valley man was paralyzed in an off-road vehicle crash. According to ABC San Diego News Channel 10, the incident happened on some trails outside of Ocotillo Wells. Charles Baker recently purchased a modified 1999 Jeep Cherokee off-road vehicle from a private seller. He was driving it on the trails near Ocotillo Wells, when something went wrong.    

He reportedly hit a sand bank, when there was a mechanical failure, possibly an issue with the steering components. He was ejected from the vehicle in the crash and knocked unconscious. Thankfully, his friend was able to locate him, and he was airlifted to a hospital in Palm Desert. Among other injuries, he sustained a spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. At this time, it’s unclear exactly what went wrong on the modified off-road Jeep.