Bicyclist dies while mountain biking on remote Menifee area trail
MENIFEE – Despite rescuer’s efforts, a man died while on a mountain biking excursion in the hills near Scenic View Drive and Keller Road in Menifee Friday, Feb. 3. The area where the incident occurred is west of the Interstate 215 Freeway and north of Greer Ranch.
Emergency first responders from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, Murrieta Fire Protection District, American Medical Response, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area about 9:33 a.m., after another bicyclist called 911. The mountain biker told emergency dispatchers that the man had collapsed during a bicycle ride on a remote area trail.
Fourteen firefighters from three engine companies and one truck company responded to the reported emergency, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Tawny Castro. They were assisted by a paramedic squad.
Based on the remote area, rescuers requested assistance locating the downed bicyclist from California Highway Patrol’s aviation unit H-60.
After the aviation crew located the bicyclist, firefighters hiked about one mile to the location of the victim, according to Castro.
When firefighter/paramedics found the man, they immediately began CPR in an attempt to revive the victim.
Despite their efforts, officials were not able to revive the victim and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
While firefighters and other emergency first responders worked on the victim, other mountain bikers could be seen watching. It was not immediately known if the other bikers at the scene were originally with the victim or if they had located the man on the trail after he fell ill and collapsed.
As the victim was being brought out of the hilly area where he collapsed, an official could be seen walking his mountain bike down the trail.
The victim has not been identified, pending notification of his family.
Click any image to open full-size gallery.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
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.