Motorcyclist killed in crash near Sage

A motorcyclist was killed Saturday, June 20, in a collision with a pickup truck pulling a trailer through a rural intersection several miles southeast of Hemet, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.

According to CHP Officer Mike Lassig, around 7:40 a.m., an 84-year-old man was driving a 2001 Dodge Ram with a utility trailer north on Red Mountain Road and beginning to turn left onto Cougar Road, a dirt road near the community of Sage, at a speed of about 5 mph.

While the man was making the turn, a 32-year-old man on a 2020 KTM Adventurer motorcycle was heading the opposite direction on Red Mountain Road and came around a curve just as the Ram and trailer pulled into his path.

Lassig said due to the motorcyclist’s speed, he was unable to stop in time and suffered major injuries when he was ejected from his bike.

The motorcyclist, later identified as Scott Burtness of Menifee, was pronounced dead at the scene.

CHP officers are investigating, Lassig said.

Will Fritz

Will Fritz is an associate editor at Valley News. He has a journalism degree from San Diego State University, where he was editor in chief of the university's independent student newspaper, The Daily Aztec. A graduate of Temecula Valley High School, his family has lived in Temecula for almost half a century. He can be reached by email at wfritz@reedermedia.com.