Los Alamitos Man one of Three Weekend Motorcycle Fatalities in OC

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—Two motorcycle fatalities on the same stretch of road occurred in less than 12 hours over the weekend, and a third nearby off Santiago Canyon Road claimed the life of a Los Alamitos man.

In the Rancho Santa Margarita, a third fatality occurred at 2:50 p.m. Sunday. The Orange County Fire Authority pronounced 58-year-old Los Alamitos resident Carl Riesling dead at the scene.

"Mr. Riesling was traveling northbound on Santiago Canyon Road just north of Loma Ridge Road on his 2016 Harley Davidson," California Highway Patrol reported. The rider was traveling approximately 70 miles per hour attempting to negotiate a slight curve in the roadway.

"Due to (his) high rate of speed, he was unable to make the curve and his motorcycle drifted off the roadway onto the dirt shoulder," CHP Officer Chavez reported.

The motorcycle traveled on the dirt shoulder before it collided with a dirt embankment.

"Mr. Riesling was ejected from his motorcycle and collided with the chain link fence located east of the roadway's edge," Chavez stated in his report. The northbound Santiago Hills roadway was closed to traffic for three hours for recovery of the motorcycle, with traffic allowed intermittently during that time.

"A friend who was riding alongside the motorcyclist was "pretty shook up," Concialdi said. Authorities dispatched a chaplain to provide grief counseling at the scene.

No other injuries were reported in this accident, however this is the third motorcycle fatality in that area during a 24-hour period.

Earlier that day, Julian Crosby II, a 40-year-old from Laguna Beach, crashed his motorcycle into a stone wall on Trabuco Canyon Road at 7:20 a.m.

The night before, a man in his late 30s was killed at just before 7 p.m. Friday, when his Harley-Davidson drifted into opposing lanes on Live Oak Canyon Road, when he smashed head-on into a Honda Accord. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later.

The Live Oak Canyon Road is an extension of Trabuco Canyon Road, making this scenic drive one of the most beautiful, if not perilous drives in the county for motorcycle riders and drivers.

OCFA recommends people slowing down on that road.

"This is a reminder to all motorcyclists to slow down when riding the canyon roads," Concialdi said. "It's a beautiful drive and scenic, and safe if you drive carefully."

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