UPDATE: Lake Elsinore motorcyclist who died after fiery, solo-motorcycle crash ID’d

LAKE ELSINORE — Officials have identified a Lake Elsinore man who died in a fiery, solo-motorcycle crash late Sunday night, July 1. The deadly accident happened on Lakeshore Dr. near Terra Cotta Rd., in Lake Elsinore.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified 43-year-old, Rafael Lopez, as the victim of the late night crash. According to a coroner’s release, Lopez succumbed to his injuries about 40 minutes after the crash happened and he was pronounced deceased at 12:16 a.m.

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Emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the wreck shortly after 11:30 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant James Woodland explained after the fatal crash.

When deputies arrived they found a motorcycle fully engulfed in flames in the number two lane of Lakeshore Dr. A rider with major injuries was found unconscious and unresponsive in the roadway nearby and several good Samaritans were at the rider’s side, providing CPR to the victim.

Deputies took over CPR on the critically injured rider until paramedics arrived and assumed life-saving efforts.

An AMR ambulance crew rushed Lopez to Inland Valley Medical Center, with life-saving measures still in progress. Despite their efforts, the rider succumbed to his injuries.

Based on the circumstances, members of Lake Elsinore PD’s Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

“Lake Elsinore Police Department is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision, and to determine whether alcohol was a factor in this collision,” Woodland later explained.

Lake Elsinore resident Jesus Sotelo, who lives across the street from where the fatal accident happened, later said he “ran to try to help,” after hearing the crash, and was the first person at the scene.

“I tried to get a response from him but there was nothing I could do, there was no reaction in his eyes,” Sotelo explained. “All I could do was pray for him and keep my kids from witnessing this.”

According to Sotelo, two motorists – a nurse and a man who was trained in CPR – pulled over and immediately “jumped into action.”

“They tried their best until a sheriff showed up,” Sotelo described, saying, “the sheriff did not hesitate and quickly jumped into action.”

Saying that between the two good Samaritans, sheriff, and medics, everything possible was done to “bring the victim back.”

 

“I didn’t know the man or his family,” Sotelo concluded, “but my heart and prayers go out to them.”

While deputies conducted their investigation they called for the temporary closure of Lakeshore Dr. between Terra Cotta and Woodland Roads, and motorists were directed away from the scene of the crash.

The roadway remained closed for about six hours during the initial, on-scene investigation.

Lake Elsinore PD’s investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and no other details were immediately available.