LAKELAND VILLAGE: Two killed in fiery motorcycle versus car accident identified

LAKELAND VILLAGE — Two people died when a motorcycle and passenger vehicle smashed into each other Monday, July 23. The deadly wreck happened in the 18800 block of Grand Avenue, near Rome Hill Road in Lakeland Village.

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the fiery, double fatal wreck at 9:26 p.m., Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Tawny Cabral explained in an incident report.

When Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers arrived at the scene minutes after the call was dispatched they discovered the mangled wreckage of the vehicle and motorcycle. Officials quickly determined both the rider of the motorcycle and the driver of the other vehicle had succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead.

“The first arriving engine company reported major damage and two victims that perished at the scene,” said Cabral.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified the two killed in the accident as Wayne Campbell, 64, of Riverside and William Bradehoft, 43, of Lake Elsinore. 

Bradehoft was riding a 2005 Triumph Motorcycle when he smashed into and killed Campbell, who was driving a 2006 Mercedes-Benz, officials said.

According to a Coroner’s release, Campbell was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. He died in front of 18864 Grand Avenue. Bradehoft was pronounced dead at 9:34 p.m. He died in front of 18871 Grand Avenue.

While firefighters doused the vehicle blaze and crews began to remove the wrecked sedan and motorcycle from the roadway, California Highway Patrol officers assumed the fatal crash investigation.

During their investigation, officers determined speed was a contributing factor in the accident that left both men dead; however, it was not immediately known if alcohol and/or drug intoxication were contributing factors in the deadly crash.

“(Bradehoft) was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Grand Avenue, just north of Morrison Street” just before the fatal accident, California Highway Patrol Officer Garcia wrote in an incident report after the deadly crash. “(Campbell) was leaving the American Legion parking lot traveling eastbound to northbound Grand Avenue.”

While traveling at high-speed, Bradehoft struck the driver’s-door side of Campbell’s Mercedes-Benz, killing Campbell instantly.

“This impact caused both vehicles to become engulfed in flames,” Garcia explained.

After the fiery wreck, Campbell’s Mercedes-Benz continued traveling northeast on Grand Avenue before it struck a fence and came to rest at 18864 Grand Ave.

There were no other vehicles or victims involved in the deadly wreck.

CHP’s investigation into the cause of the crash is active and ongoing.

 

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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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 and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.

s 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.