Details Released In Fatal Ortega Highway Crash Near Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A motorcyclist killed Sunday in a head-on crash along Ortega Highway, just west of Lake Elsinore, was a 57-year-old man from Laguna Niguel.

The California Highway Patrol has released preliminary details about the 8:47 a.m. crash, which showed that the motorcyclist — whose identity has not been released — was heading east at 50-55 mph, just east of the Lookout, when he swerved into oncoming traffic while trying to negotiate a sweeping right curve in the road.

The 2005 Buell motorcycle he was riding was struck head on by a 2016 Nissan Frontier driven by a 36-year-old Corona man. The Nissan driver was traveling at about 35 mph and tried to avoid the motorcyclist by moving into the roadway shoulder, the CHP said.

During the collision, the motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and died at the scene. The Nissan driver sustained minor injuries, according to the CHP.

There were no arrests announced.

The crash remains under investigation by the CHP.