4 Dead After 2 Motorcyclists Collide In Orange County
SILVERADO CANYON (CBSLA) -- Four people were killed Sunday when two motorcyclists with one passenger each, collided in Orange County.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on Santiago Canyon Road, just south of Lake Irvine in Silverado Canyon.
Sky2's Desmond Shaw reported from over the accident. He said he couldn't zoom in because "it's a very gruesome scene."
He said CHP was investigating the accident -- no other vehicle appeared to be involved.
Officials said two males and two females were pronounced dead at the scene.
Santiago Canyon Road was closed. while CHP investigated the cause of the crash.
The names of the victims were not disclosed pending notification of next of kin, authorities said.
CBS2/KCAL9 reporter Jeff Nguyen spoke to the CHP who said the crash happened when one motorcyclist going north tried to pass a car at a bend in the road. That motorcyclist crossed the double yellow lines and hit the other cyclist, going south, head-on.
"It's a pretty bad scene," said CHP Officer Florentino Olivera, "Probably one of the worst ones we've seen in a while"
The driver of the car the bike tried to pass stayed at the scene to tell the CHP what happened.
Nguyen spoke to motorcyclist Cynthia Fox. She wasn't connected to the crash but came by to pay her respects. She lives a few miles away from the accident.
"My heart goes out to all their families," she said.
Officer Olivera said there is no reason to pass another vehicle, especially not around a blind turn.
"Be patient with drivers in front of you," he said, "If they're going the speed limit, and you're in a hurry for some reason, don't over take that vehicle if it's going to be too dangerous for you."