One killed, two airlifted after motorcycles crash on Hwy 74
UPDATED: Sunday, Aug. 9, 4 p.m., With additional details provided by CHP.
See Original Story below.
MOUNTAIN CENTER, Calif. — CHP has reported that both lanes of travel were re-opened around 3:45 p.m., and say their accident investigation is active and ongoing.
Original Story
UPDATED: Sunday, Aug. 9, 3:45 p.m., With additional details.
MOUNTAIN CENTER, Calif. — One person was killed and two others were critically injured and airlifted after a crash that involved at least two motorcycles west of Idyllwild this afternoon, Sunday, Aug. 9.
As of this update, officials remain at the scene of the deadly collision, which happened between the communities of Valle Vista and Mountain Center, along a sweeping curve in the area of Hwy. 74E and the View Point turnout.
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CHP, Cal Fire-Riverside and AMR were dispatched to the scene around 12:45 p.m., after receiving reports of the deadly accident near MM 56.1, according to a CHP incident log.
911 callers reported at least one of the downed motorcycles was left in the middle of the winding, two-lane mountain roadway and that traffic was backing up heavily in both directions.
One motorcycle rider was killed and two others were critically injured after at least two motorcycles crashed on Hwy. 74E near Mountain Center earlier today. Michael Darrow photo
When officials began arriving at the scene they found dozens of motorcyclists and concerned motorists lining the sides of the highway, while good Samaritans provided life-saving efforts and medical aid to three victims injured in the crash.
Despite life-saving efforts, the most critically injured motorcyclist succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene around 1:15 p.m., CHP’s log indicated.
The rider killed in the crash had been operating a black Honda 1300 when the deadly accident occurred and the person’s name has not yet been released, pending identification further investigation and notification of family members.
Two other riders were reportedly airlifted to area trauma centers with critical injuries, according to witnesses at the scene and Cal Fire. Their current conditions were not known as of this update.
Although it was not known if the deceased and injured riders were part of their club, numerous riders who stopped at the scene of the crash were wearing vests marked with Suicide Kings Motorcycle Club patches. Michael Darrow photo
Officials managed to clear one side of the roadway to allow for one-way traffic flow around 1:45 p.m.; however, eastbound traffic remained significantly backed up as of this update.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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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.
I was there at the scene. No one was air lifted. The couple on the Harley were ridding down the mountain and the other bikers were ridding together up the mountain.
Thank you for that information, Tanya. Other witnesses at the scene, as well as Cal Fire, said the other two victims were airlifted by Mercy Air.
-TM
Were you onsite when it happened?
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