Ortega Highway Head-On Crash: Motorcyclist Suffers Major Injuries

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Norco man was rushed to the hospital with major injuries over the weekend, after he crashed head-on into an SUV on the Ortega Highway, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday.

According to CHP Officer Harvey Ray, the crash happened around 10:55 a.m. Sunday along SR-74. The Norco resident was on a motorcycle headed eastbound on the curvy highway, traveling at an estimated 60 mph, when he slammed into a Wisconsin man was driving westbound on the highway at about 40 mph.

"As [the motorcyclist] negotiated the turn in the roadway, he allowed [the 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle] to veer into the westbound lane, directly into the path of [the Ford Expedition]," Ray said in a news release. "As a result, the front end of [the Harley] collided with the left front end of [the Ford]."

The motorcyclist was thrown from the Harley and landed on the shoulder of the roadway, according to Ray. He was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center with major injuries.

The man in the Ford was not hurt, the CHP said.

The crash is under investigation by the Temecula Area CHP.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone