On July 28, 2024, a multi-vehicle crash in Wynola, San Diego County involving several motorcycles and a pickup truck killed one motorcycle rider and seriously injured another one.
A group of motorcyclists, including a 66-year-old man from La Mirada (who was on a Harley Davidson Road King bike) and a 55-year-old man from Mission Viejo Harley Low Rider), were traveling eastbound on Route 78. According to investigators, the Road King rider drifted across the center line while negotiating a curve, sideswiping a pickup truck and trailer.
The force of the impact ejected the Road King rider off his bike. He came to rest in the eastbound lanes with his bike on top of him. Then, the rider of the Harley Low Rider, who was traveling behind the Road King, swerved to avoid running over the rider and struck the side of the Chevrolet. He was also ejected onto the roadway.
The 66-year-old man was transported to Santa Ysabel by ground ambulance for airlifting to a nearby hospital., where he was later declared dead. The 55-year-old was also airlifted to Palomar Hospital for treatment of major injuries. A CHP spokesperson said that the driver of the Chevrolet and a passenger in the vehicle were uninjured.
Wynola, an unincorporated area in the Spencer Valley, is a popular tourist destination. Many riders are unfamiliar with the drastic twists and turns common on mountain roads.
As the above story indicates, two-wheel motorcycles are much harder to control than four-wheel vehicles. Furthermore, other than their helmets, motorcycle riders are completely unprotected. A sideswipe crash, which normally is not serious, could easily kill a motorcycle rider.
For a confidential consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in San Diego, contact Ozols Law Firm.