CABAZON: Motorcyclist dies after I-10 wreck
CABAZON – A Florida resident was killed in an early-morning, single-vehicle accident when he lost control of his motorcycle on Interstate 10 Nov. 6. The fatal accident happened near Railroad Avenue, about two miles east of Main Street in Cabazon, according to a California Highway Patrol official. The location of the accident was east of the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Morongo Travel Center, and Worlds Largest Dinosaur’s display.
CHP officers responded to several 911 calls reporting the fatal accident at 12:52 a.m. When they arrived they located a male motorcyclist who was down in the roadway on Railroad Avenue, which runs adjacent to I-10. The rider lost control while negotiating a sweeping curve in the highway, according to CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire paramedics evaluated and treated the victim at the scene. In spite of their efforts, the motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the location of the accident at 1:32 a.m.
The victim’s identity has not been released, pending notification of his family.
Officials cover the motorcycle rider’s body with an American flag that was specifically brought to the location. Miguel Shannon photo
After his death, firefighters and police officials were seen holding the man’s hand and praying for him, before they covered the his body with an American flag; a designation of honor reserved for active-duty military personnel.
Although an official later confirmed the motorcyclist was in the military, it has not yet been publicly released which branch of the military the young man was in. There are a number of military bases throughout the desert communities that he could have been traveling to.
A preliminary investigation revealed the victim, who has only been identified as a 19-year-old from Sunrise, Florida, was riding a blue, 2009 Yamaha motorcycle eastbound on I-10 when he wrecked.
According to Meyer, the man was traveling eastbound in the slow lane and had just passed under the Main Street bridge in Cabazon when he began to negotiate a sweeping left curve in the freeway. “Because of his high rate of speed the rider was unable to maintain control of his motorcycle,” which led to the fatal accident Meyer explained in a written press release about the accident.
The victim’s speed was estimated to be about 90 miles per hour.
“The motorcycle left the south road edge and traveled down an embankment, through the freeway perimeter fence and onto Railroad Avenue,” Meyer explained in a press release about the deadly accident. “The rider was ejected and sustained fatal injuries.”
Alcohol and/or drug intoxication have not been ruled out as contributing factors in the cause of this collision, according to Meyer. Pending toxicology reports from the coroner’s office were expected to assist the officer’s in determining if the motorcyclist was riding while under the influence.
The investigation, which is active and ongoing, is being conducted by CHP officers.
Anyone with information about this incident or who witnessed the deadly accident is encouraged to contact CHP officials at (951) 769-2000. Callers can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.