Ortega Highway Crash Kills Murrieta Motorcyclist, CHP Releases Details

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Details were released Monday about a fatal weekend crash on the Ortega Highway involving a 78-year-old motorcyclist from Murrieta.

Charles Landreth died in the solo-vehicle crash after he lost control of his bike just after 1:30 p.m. Saturday about 1.4 miles west of Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore.

According to a preliminary report from the California Highway Patrol, Landreth was piloting a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard C50 eastbound on the winding highway, descending into Lake Elsinore. His speed was 35-40 mph.

As he entered a "sweeping curve to the left," Landreth failed to negotiate the turn and smashed into the metal guardrail on the south side of the road and was ejected from the bike, the agency said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The CHP would like to remind the motoring public to travel at a safe and prudent speed while driving or riding on roadways with curves and various elevations," CHP Officer Mike Lassig said. "Traveling too fast can prevent the safe ability to traverse a roadway that may have an unexpected curve or stopped traffic ahead."

The CHP is continuing to investigate the crash cause. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to the CHP, Temecula Area office at 951-466-4300.