2 Motorcyclists Killed In Head-On Ortega Highway Crash: CHP

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The Ortega Highway/SR-74 was temporarily closed in both directions Sunday afternoon following a double fatal crash on the highway. CHP officials tell Patch that two motorcyclists died after colliding head-on around 10:25 a.m. The roadway was not reopened to the public until 1:08 p.m.

The crash happened just east of Decker Canyon Road, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Lassig.

"One motorcyclist was traveling on a Yamaha motorcycle eastbound at a high rate of speed and was unable to maintain his lane while entering a curve in the roadway," Lassig told Patch. "Due to his unsafe speed, he crossed over the double yellow line, colliding head-on with a BMW motorcyclist."

A witness called 911, and the CHP and Riverside County fire officials responded to the location. When they arrived at the location, first responders attempted life- saving procedures on two people who were down and unconscious, according to the California Highway Patrol and fire reports.

Lassig said due to the "major impact" between the two motorcyclists, both men died at the scene. The Yamaha rider was from La Habra, while the BMW rider was from Buena Park.

Emergency responders then shut down the highway until just after 1 p.m., both eastbound and westbound, while coroner's officials completed their investigation and cleared the scene. The CHP blocked access at Grand Avenue on the Riverside County side and at Nichols on the Orange County side.

Lassig said he'd like to "...remind all motorcyclists to ride at a legal and safe speed, unsafe speeds can be a fatal decision."

This is the second fatal crash on the Ortega this week. A man died on Tuesday upon crashing 100 feet off the side of the highway, officials reported.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone