UPDATE: Speeding MV motorcyclist killed after losing control, hitting truck head-on ID’d

UPDATED: Wednesday, July 11, 10:30 a.m.

See original story below.

SAN JACINTO — Officials have identified a man who died yesterday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on a sweeping curve and smashed head-on into an oncoming pickup truck. The deadly collision happened in the area of Gilman Springs and Sublette Roads, just north of Golden Era Golf Course.

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Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials identified Mario Rodriguez, 30, of Moreno Valley as the man who died at the scene of the collision. A Coroner’s release indicated Rodriguez was pronounced deceased at the scene at 2:55 p.m., about 20 minutes after the deadly crash.

CHP officials have stated that excessive speed was a contributing factor on Rodriguez’ part, who was traveling “well in excess of the posted 45 mph maximum.”

Two Yucaipa residents from the truck Rodriguez crash into were uninjured in the accident.

Officials have not yet ruled out drug or alcohol intoxication as possible contributing factors on Rodriguez’ part and their investigation is ongoing.

 

SAN JACINTO — Excessive speed is suspected as a contributing factor in a crash that killed a motorcyclist after the rider collided head-on with a pickup truck earlier this afternoon. The deadly collision happened when the rider lost control on a sweeping curve in the area of Gilman Springs and Sublette Roads, just north of Golden Era Golf Course.

Although an off-duty paramedic was one of the first people to arrive at the rider’s side almost immediately after the accident happened, he found the downed rider had sustained major injuries and reported the man was possibly in traumatic full-arrest.

Despite the paramedic attempting CPR and other life-saving measures, the victim succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters and paramedics, and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after 2:30 p.m., after the off-duty paramedic and other witnesses called 911 to report the fatal crash.

A dozen firefighters from three engine companies and a paramedic squad responded to the scene, Cal Fire spokesperson Tawny Cabral explained in an incident report.

The first arriving engine company reported a pickup truck and motorcycle involved “with one victim ejected from the motorcycle,” said Cabral.

When they arrived, firefighter/paramedics found the victim off the north side of the road and out of the lanes of traffic, along the dirt shoulder of the roadway. The off-duty paramedic was still at the rider’s side and was still performing CPR to the victim. Despite taking over life-saving efforts, paramedics were unable to revive the man.

The rider has not been publicly identified, pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.

Officials eventually called for the temporary closure of a two and a half mile section of Gilman Springs Rd, between N Sanderson Ave. and Soboba St. The roadway remained closed for several hours, causing a traffic nightmare for late afternoon and early evening commuters.

During their initial on-scene investigation, CHP determined that just before the fatal collision, the victim was riding a red and white, 2005 Yamaha eastbound on Gilman Springs. The victim was traveling “at a speed in excess of the posted 45 mph maximum,” CHP spokesperson Officer Darren Meyer said after the deadly collision.

At the same time, 58-year-old Yucaipa resident Donald Boring, was driving a white, 2008 Chevrolet Colorado westbound on Gilman Springs Rd.

As the two vehicles approached each other on a sweeping curve near the intersection of Sublette Rd., the rider was unable to negotiate the right-hand curve in the roadway and he lost control of his motorcycle.

“Due to the motorcycle’s excessive speed, the rider allowed his vehicle to drift left, across double yellow lines and into the westbound lane of Gilman Springs Road,” explained Meyer.

After drifting “directly into the path of the Chevrolet,” the motorcyclist tried to pass the pickup on its far, passenger side, but collided head-on with the Chevy in the westbound lane of the two-lane roadway. The impact launched the rider from his motorcycle into the pickup’s windshield, and sent both the rider and his motorcycle careening off the road.

Neither Boring or his female passenger were injured in the fatal crash, according to Meyer, who explained that alcohol and drug intoxication have not been ruled out as possible contributing factors on the part of the motorcycle rider.