A U.S. Forestry vehicle went off the road on Mt. Emma Road near Palmdale Monday evening, overturning in the desert. Several fire crew members were injured in the incident.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Javier Gonzalez, 29, of Palmdale, was driving the vehicle eastbound on Mt. Emma Road, east of Chesebroro Road at approximately 60 mph. Gonzalez swerved to the right to avoid an animal in the roadway, drove partially on the south dirt shoulder, then over-corrected back to the left, causing the vehicle to leave the north road edge, overturning off the embankment into the desert landscape.

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The fire crew had just finished a shift and was heading back to their station at the time of the accident.

Three of the passengers were airlifted for treatment of moderate injuries, including  Virginia Crosby, 33 of Wrightwood, taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center; David Maravilla, 27, of Glendale and Edwardo Valle, 22, of Winnetka, both of them taken to USC Hospital. Mike Delay, 33, and Dan Skinner, 18, of Glendale, suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Palmdale Regional Hospital; Gonzalez, Johnny Summers, 23, Louis Quezada, 31, of West Covina, Kristian Nelson, 21, of Wrightwood all suffered minor injuries and were taken to Antelope Valley Hospital.