A Santa Ana man was killed Saturday, Jan. 20 when he lost control of his off-road vehicle in the Mojave Desert, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office said.

Nathan Bailey, 44, was driving in the foothills northeast of Means Dry Lake, according to a coroner’s report. That’s in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle area northwest of Landers.

About 3:20 p.m., someone called 911 to report the crash. California Highway Patrol officers were sent out, and discovered that Bailey’s vehicle had overturned when he lost control. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No additional details from the CHP were available Sunday, a dispatcher said.

Means Dry Lake is well-known in the off-roading community as the starting point for the King of the Hammers race every February. The website TrailsOffRoad.com describes the dry lakebed itself as having an easy technical rating:

“Means Dry Lake aka Hammertown USA is the one calm location in an area known for extreme off-road,” the site says. “It is typically used as a base camp and staging area for those who are attempting the legendary Hammer Trails and the King of the Hammers event. Whether it is your first time wheeling or are an extreme rock crawler, arriving at Means Dry Lake is as good as waking up to Christmas morning.”