Missing Mountain Biker Found Dead In Hemet

HEMET, CA — A mountain bike rider from Hemet who went missing last month was found dead Thursday, an apparent crash victim.

The body of Brian Darrell Grangaard, 45, was discovered 4:31 p.m. down a cliff off Vista Del Valle in Hemet, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Matt Napier.

Grangaard was last seen riding in the area.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department relayed to the CHP that the agency had been asked to assist with Grangaard's search after a missing person report was filed May 25 with the Hemet Police Department, Napier said.

The cyclist's body and bike were found in heavy brush by a Riverside County sheriff's deputy during Thursday's search.

Once deputies determined that Grangaard was a crash victim, the California Highway Patrol was called in.

According to Napier, the CHP's preliminary investigation showed Grangaard was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of his bike on a sweeping Vista Del Valle curve and crashed down the cliffside.

A young woman who said she is Grangaard's daughter established a GoFundMe missing person's page for her father.

"My dad, Brian Grangaard, has been missing since 5/25/20. He told my grandma he would be home for dinner that night after riding Simpson Park bike trail. He never came home. His phone was on the first three days and now it’s completely shut off," the post reads.

Drugs and/or alcohol did not appear to have contributed to the crash, Napier said.