alleymon By: The Californian
EL CARISO —- An Orange County man riding a motorcycle was seriously injured Wednesday when he crashed into a two-axle truck on Ortega Highway just after 9 a.m., authorities said.
During the crash, Mark Weitzel was run over by the rear wheels of the truck, according to a California Highway Patrol report.
Weitzel, 33, of Mission Viejo, was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle west on Ortega Highway, approaching South Main Divide.
In front of him was a Chevrolet two-axle truck traveling about 20 to 25 mph while driven by George Lowell, 69, of Wildomar, the CHP report states.
Weitzel was passing a couple of vehicles by crossing the double yellow line and hit the side of the truck as it started to make a left turn onto South Main Divide, according to the CHP.
Weitzel was flown by medical helicopter to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar to be treated for his injuries, officers said. Lowell received minor injuries, according to the report.
I just want to say that, obviously, if this rider hadn’t passed illegally on the highway, this accident wouldn’t have happened. And I’m glad the rider is okay, he got lucky. Ortega Highway is not a Dangerous Road as most people beileve. It’s the idiots who are in too big a hurry to follow traffic laws that are dangerous.
K