MOUNTAIN CENTER: Unlicensed Banning motorcyclist killed in Hwy. 243 head-on collision

MOUNTAIN CENTER — An unlicensed motorcyclist died when his motorcycle drifted out of his lane of travel into oncoming traffic, Wednesday, Nov. 15. The fatal collision happened  on SR-243, about one mile north of SR-74, in the unincorporated community of Mountain Center.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified Thai Yang, 40, of Banning, as the motorcyclist killed in the crash. He was pronounced deceased at the scene at 12:48 p.m., about ten minutes after the accident was reported.

California Highway Patrol officers, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire personnel and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the deadly wreck about 12:39 p.m., after other motorists and witnesses called 911 to report the crash.

When officials arrived, they found a wrecked motorcycle and an older, damaged pickup truck along northbound 243 near Mile Marker 1.25. A motorcyclist who had sustained major traumatic injuries was down in the roadway and other motorcyclists and motorists had stopped at the scene to render aid.

Medical personnel quickly determined the motorcycle rider, later identified as Yang, had succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

CHP officers investigating the cause of the deadly wreck determined Yang had been riding a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on SR-243 just before the accident. Vincent Brooks, 26, of Mountain Canter, was driving a blue, Ford F-150 the opposite direction and was traveling northbound on SR-243.

“As the motorcycle rider was negotiating a sweeping right hand curve in the roadway, he lost control and crossed over the double yellow lines, directly into the path of a northbound Ford F-150,” CHP Public Information Officer Darren Meyer explained in a press release after the deadly crash. “The front of the F-150 collided with the motorcycle.”

“The rider was ejected from his seat onto the roadway surface and sustained fatal injuries,” said Meyer.

No other vehicles were involved in the collision and there were no other reported injuries.

Further investigation by CHP determined that Yang was wearing a helmet; however, he  lacked the proper license to ride a motorcycle, according to Meyer.

Alcohol and/or drugs have not been ruled out as contributing factors in the collision.

CHP is investigating the cause of the fatal collision and their investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who witnessed the deadly crash is encouraged to contact CHP Officer Aanestad at (951) 769-2000 . Callers can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.