Rider Fatally Injured in Head-on Collision Identified

By City News Service:

A motorcyclist killed in a head-on collision just south of Riverside was identified this week as a 40-year-old Perris man.

Miguel Bethune suffered fatal injuries Monday night when he collided with a compact car on a two-lane road near Lake Mathews.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Bethune was riding his 2001 Indian motorcycle east on Cajalco Road shortly after 6 p.m. when he veered into the westbound lane. Witnesses reported seeing the victim weaving in and out of traffic, going over the double-yellow lines, to get around slower-moving vehicles on the clogged roadway.

A 31-year-old Riverside woman was driving her 2010 Ford Flex west on Cajalco at about 30 mph when she encountered the motorcycle coming straight at her and had no time to steer clear, resulting in a head-on crash, said CHP Officer Travis Monks.

He said Bethune was ejected from his bike and died at the scene.

The woman was treated for minor injuries by Riverside County paramedics.

Both sides of Cajalco were shut down nearly an hour for emergency personnel and a preliminary investigation by CHP. The ensuing traffic jam extended into both the outskirts of Corona and Riverside.