Crime & Safety

Coroner Releases Identities Of 2 Motorcyclists Killed On Ortega Highway

Robert Harris, 48, of Fontana died at the hospital and Fidel Curiel, 26, of Lake Elsinore died on the Ortega.

The coroner’s office has identified the two motorcyclists who died Saturday following two separate crashes on the Ortega Highway.

The first has been identified as 48-year-old Robert Harris of Fontana, who died at Inland Valley Medical Center at 3:10 p.m. following a Saturday crash reported shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

The second motorcyclist was identified by the coroner as 26-year-old Lake Elsinore resident Fidel Curiel. He was pronounced dead on Ortega Highway at 2:54 p.m. after crashing moments earlier, at about 2:30 p.m., according to the coroner’s report.

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Curiel was wearing an approved safety helmet, according to CHP Officer Nathan Baer.

Both crashes occurred on the Ortega near The Lookout Roadhouse. In the first crash, Harris was riding a Harley-Davidson Sportster heading westbound on the Ortega traveling at about 45 to 50 miles when for unknown reasons he drifted into eastbound traffic and struck the left front of a 2006 Ford Five Hundred sedan, Baer explained.

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Harris lost control and went over the side of the highway. The crash, which occurred approximately 2 miles west of Grand Avenue, completely severed his left leg, Baer said.

CHP Officer Jose Serrano responded to the scene, walked down the cliff at the highway's edge and located Harris, "who was still conscious, but in a tremendous amount of pain," Baer explained.

The Ford driver, 54-year-old John Fitzgerald of Glendora, was not injured but Baer said his vehicle sustained major damage and was undriveable. Fitzgerald was interviewed and released from the scene.

"He was obeying the law and doing everything he was supposed to be doing," Baer said.

It's unclear if Harris was under the influence.

"We are still investigating that," Baer said.

Baer said he could not confirm whether Harris was wearing an approved safety helmet.

The second crash about 1 mile east of The Lookout Roadhouse, Curiel was headed eastbound on a 2009 red and white Husqvarna dual-purpose motorcycle. Witnesses reported he was traveling at a high rate of speed and crossing over the double yellow line, Baer explained. 

"One witness said he flew right past him," Baer said.

The motorcyclist suddenly came upon traffic that was stopped as a result of the first crash, but he was unable to brake in time.

"He ended up laying the bike down," Baer said.

The motorcycle sustained minimal damage, Curiel ended up underneath a small white pickup truck that was stopped in the eastbound traffic, Baer explained.

The truck driver helped bystanders get the motorcyclist out from under his vehicle, but left the scene before first responders arrived, according to Baer.

When first responders got to the second crash, they tried to resuscitate Curiel, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Baer said.

Drugs or alcohol are not suspected in that crash, Baer said.

The CHP is seeking the truck driver.

"We just need to talk to him about the investigation," Baer said.

The man is described as approximately 40 years old with blonde hair. No further description was available and Baer said the truck make and model have not been confirmed.

The man, or anyone who may have information, is asked to contact the CHP Temecula Station at 951-506-2000.

The crashes forced officials to close the Ortega most of Saturday afternoon.


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