Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Angeles National Forest Above Monrovia ID'd

MONROVIA, CA - A motorcyclist who was found dead after crashing off San Gabriel Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest was identified Thursday.

He was 31-year-old Los Angeles resident Welter Virula Castillo, according to the county coroner's office. The man was found about 7 a.m. Tuesday near the roadway, also known as state Route 39, north of East Fork Road, the sheriff's San Dimas Station reported.

About 10:35 p.m. Monday, two motorcyclists contacted the sheriff's department to report that they had lost sight of their companion on SR 39 above East Fork Road. They said they searched for him without success and were concerned about his welfare.

Patrol units and the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team started searching the rugged area but could not find Virula Castillo, and a search from the air was hampered by weather conditions. On Tuesday morning, a sheriff's air unit located a crash site near Highway 39 mile marker 32.51 close to Coldbrook campground. The motorcycle and rider were found off the roadway.

The sheriff's department was assisting the California Highway Patrol in the crash investigation.

"The San Gabriel Mountains are full of beautiful vistas in the back yard of the L.A. basin," a sheriff's statement says. "Thousands of visitors enjoy these sights each year. Visitors are reminded to use extreme caution on these mountain roads, especially in hours of darkness."

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock