FRENCH VALLEY, CA — A 19-year-old Winchester man lost his life on Sunday in a tragic motorcycle accident in a residential area of French Valley. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the solo rider, whose identity is withheld pending notification of next of kin, was traveling at high speed when the incident occurred.
The motorcyclist was riding a 2017 Suzuki GSX-R bike heading eastbound on Abelia Street, just west of Kale Lane, around 12:42 p.m. The preliminary report from the CHP suggests that the rider was traveling at approximately 80-90 mph when, for reasons still under investigation, he lost control of the bike and was unable to recover.
Despite wearing safety equipment, the rider was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained major injuries. Emergency services transported him via ground ambulance to Wildomar’s Southwest Healthcare Inland Valley Hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away at 5:40 p.m. the same day.
The CHP is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. CHP Officer Mike Lassig emphasized the importance of being mindful of speed, stating, “The CHP would like to remind the motoring public to always be mindful of your speed, as speed is the number one cause of traffic collisions.”