UPDATE: Motorcyclist Killed in Lake Elsinore crash ID’d

UPDATED: Saturday, July 11, 1:15 p.m., With coroner’s release of information and other details.

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — A motorcyclist was killed after a two-vehicle crash on the 15000 block of Grand Ave. in Lake Elsinore yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, July 7.

The deadly collision, which forced the hours-long closure of Grand Ave., happened between Highway 74 and Ethlene Drive.

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CHP, Cal Fire-Riverside, and AMR were dispatched to the scene of the collision around 4:15 p.m., after receiving reports of an accident involving a motorcycle and passenger vehicle, CHP has since said of the deadly crash.

When officials arrived they found a wrecked motorcycle that had collided with a silver Toyota. Officials also located several witnesses and good Samaritans who were at the motorcyclist’s side, attempting to provide him CPR in the roadway.

Officials have identified the motorcyclist killed in last Tuesday’s deadly crash as Timothy Collins, of Lake Elsinore. He leaves behind a wife and several children. Terisa Garcia photo

Despite life-saving efforts, the motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene, according to CHP.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials have since identified the motorcyclist as Timothy Collins, 52, of Lake Elsinore. A coroner’s release indicated Collins was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel at 4:33 p.m.

Area resident, Jerald Huffman Jr., who witnessed the fatal collision and said he and his wife were the first at the scene and attempted to render aid and perform CPR to the downed motorcyclist, later said on social media he and his wife have been “forever changed” by what they witnessed.

“I was the first person on the scene … I saw it all go down,” Huffman described; saying, “The man on the bike did nothing wrong … (and) the driver of the Toyota was definitely at fault.”

“I saw him take his last breath,” Huffman continued. “The man looked at me, closed his eyes, and took his last breath.”

“I left that day … forever changed, and (my wife and I) still cry after crying for hours,” said Huffman.

Collins Family photos/GoFundMe

Collins’ uncle, Terry Anthony, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast, is organizing a memorial ride in honor of his nephew, planned for tomorrow, Sunday, July 12.

The ride is scheduled to leave Anthony’s Anaheim residence at 10 a.m., and will then head up to Lake Elsinore where participants will join other motorcycle riders.

For more information about the ride, you can see Anthony’s Facebook post below or on Facebook or Anthony can be contacted directly at (714) 574-1792.

A GoFundMe account has been created to help cover Collins’ funeral expenses and establish a fund for his wife and children’s future needs. As of this update, the fundraiser had raised more than $6,000 toward its $7,500 goal.

CHP’s investigation into the cause of the deadly crash is ongoing and no further details regarding how the accident happened or who was at fault have been released.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.