Oceanside motorcyclist killed in Palomar Mountain collision

Sunday, June 1—

A collision between a motorcyclist trying to pass, and a car making a left turn into a campground on Palomar Mountain, left a 55-year-old Oceanside man dead today.

Around 12:10 a.m., the man was riding a 2011 Triumph motorcycle north on South Grade Road, north of state Route 76 when he crossed into oncoming traffic twice to pass another vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt.

Bettencourt said the rider failed to realize the 45-year-old driver of the second vehicle — a 2004 Toyota Corolla — was turning left into the Oak Knoll Campground, at 31718 South Grade Road, Bettencourt said.

The motorcycle struck the left side of the Toyota, and the rider was thrown into the roadway, then slid under the car, Bettencourt said. He died at the scene.

Neither the Oceanside woman was driving the Toyota nor her passenger were injured, according to Bettencourt and Cal Fire.

Bettencourt said it was unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, which remained under investigation.