thedrifter
08-07-07, 06:32 AM
Marine killed in motorcycle crash near Julian
By: The Californian
JULIAN -- A 22-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine was killed Saturday when he crashed his motorcycle while riding with a group of friends on Highway 78 just east of Julian, authorities said.
The motorcyclist, whose name was not immediately available, was riding a 2006 Suzuki GSXR eastbound, at an "unsafe speed," on Banner Grade at about 9:30 a.m. when he lost control of the bike and veered into oncoming traffic lanes, then went off an embankment, California Highway Patrol officer Brian Pennings said.
"That grade is extremely curvy, and it's pretty steep," Pennings said.
The motorcyclist then sideswiped an oak tree and hit another directly, landing about 30 feet below the tree, the officer said.
The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, died at the scene. His body was found at about 10:30 a.m. by his friends, a group of seven other Marines that noticed him missing a few minutes after the crash and went back to search, Pennings said.
The friends called authorities from a roadside call box; none witnessed the crash, he said.
Ellie
By: The Californian
JULIAN -- A 22-year-old Camp Pendleton Marine was killed Saturday when he crashed his motorcycle while riding with a group of friends on Highway 78 just east of Julian, authorities said.
The motorcyclist, whose name was not immediately available, was riding a 2006 Suzuki GSXR eastbound, at an "unsafe speed," on Banner Grade at about 9:30 a.m. when he lost control of the bike and veered into oncoming traffic lanes, then went off an embankment, California Highway Patrol officer Brian Pennings said.
"That grade is extremely curvy, and it's pretty steep," Pennings said.
The motorcyclist then sideswiped an oak tree and hit another directly, landing about 30 feet below the tree, the officer said.
The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, died at the scene. His body was found at about 10:30 a.m. by his friends, a group of seven other Marines that noticed him missing a few minutes after the crash and went back to search, Pennings said.
The friends called authorities from a roadside call box; none witnessed the crash, he said.
Ellie