Crime & Safety

Rohnert Park Man Killed, Family Injured in Off-Road Vehicle Accident in Mojave Desert

One local resident is asking the community if they'd support a donation effort for the man's family, who live in G Section.

A Rohnert Park man is dead and his family injured following a Wednesday night accident in a Mojave Desert valley, near the town of Landers, according to an article in the Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper there that covers both San Bernadino and Riverside counties.

According to the story, Steven Brent Williams, 30, his wife and the couple's two children were in a recreational vehicle crash during an off-road excursion. The article stated that:

"A roll-over accident in a popular Mojave Desert off-road vehicle area killed a Northern California man Wednesday night and sent his wife and their two small children to the hospital by medical helicopter."

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Thirty-year-old Steven Brent Williams died at the scene of the 7:45 p.m. crash on Means Dry Lake in the Johnson Valley Off Road Area, about 13 miles northwest of Landers."

"The family had left their campsite to seek cell phone reception and were driving a 1965 Jeep that had been modified into a rock crawler containing two seats, both with five-point safety belts, said Officer Joaquin Zubieta."

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatiwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The son, 1, and daughter, 4, were reportedly injured after the Jeep overturned three times, throwing the family from the vehile.

According to the article, "Williams had the couple’s 4-year-old daughter in his lap, and Williams’ wife had their 1-year-old son in her lap, Zubieta said."

One Rohnert Park woman contacted Rohnert Park Patch this morning, asking the community if they'd support some sort of fundraising campaign for the Williams family.

"They live in G section and I am just so sad for these babies," said local resident Tamara Wall. "Can we do something as a community to raise money for them and put the word out for donations?"

"I cannot stop thinking about them and want to do something to help them out," she added.

Would you support a donation effort the family? Please post your comments below and we'll find out what we can do. Send emails also to angela.hart@patch.com.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.