Serious injuries in two collisions

Serious injuries of two motorcyclists were suspected in two of three traffic collisions reported on Hill roads recently, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Matt Napier.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, William Lee Harwell, 38, of Philomath, Oregon, was traveling westbound at about 60 mph on his 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan on Highway 74 when, about 800 feet west of Palm Canyon Drive in the Pinyon Pines area, for unknown reasons he turned right as the highway bent left. He overturned the motorcycle and was ejected.

American Medical Response transported him to Desert Regional Medical Center with suspected serious injuries. Valley Auto towed the motorcycle.

At 9:50 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, Joshua Coven, 28, of Murrieta, was traveling northbound on Highway 243 at about 30 to 40 mph on a 2012 Harley Davidson when he failed to negotiate a right-hand curve, allowing the vehicle to cross over the double-yellow lines. This occurred about 194 feet south of Marion View Drive when Barbara Ann Ritche, 67, of Idyllwild, was traveling southbound on Highway 243 at about 30 mph in a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Coven ejected himself from the bike and landed on the roadway as the two vehicles collided head-on. Mercy Air transported him to Riverside University Health System with suspected serious injuries.

Idyllwild Garage towed the bike; the Cruiser was not towed and Ritche did not suffer injuries.

At 2:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, Vanessa Deleon, 22, of Idyllwild, was driving a 2001 Lexus IS300 northbound on Highway 243 at about 45 to 55 mph. Due to a suspected state of intoxication, she left the right edge roadway as she entered a left-hand curve 84 feet south of Cedar Glen Drive, overcorrected to the left, lost control and crossed over into a steep dirt embankment. The Lexus rolled over, landing on its left side.

Deleon suffered minor injuries and was not transported to a hospital. After an investigation, she was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Idyllwild Garage towed the vehicle.