LAKE ELSINORE, CA — On Monday, the California Highway Patrol unveiled information regarding the tragic collision on the Ortega Highway that claimed the life of 78-year-old Murrieta resident Charles Landreth over the weekend.
The fatal incident occurred when Landreth lost control of his motorcycle shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, approximately 1.4 miles west of Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore.
According to a preliminary report from the California Highway Patrol, Landreth was navigating an eastbound route on the serpentine Ortega Highway as he descended towards Lake Elsinore, maintaining a speed between 35 and 40 mph.
While negotiating a “sweeping curve to the left,” Landreth failed to manage the turn, colliding with the metal guardrail on the south side of the roadway, which resulted in him being thrown from his motorcycle, as stated by the agency.
Tragically, Landreth was pronounced dead at the scene. In response to the incident, CHP Officer Mike Lassig advised, “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. Traveling too fast can prevent the safe ability to traverse a roadway that may have an unexpected curve or stopped traffic ahead.”
The CHP’s investigation into the crash’s cause is ongoing, and they encourage anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the CHP, Temecula Area office at 951-466-4300.