Coroner ID’s motorcyclist who died after being ejected onto I-10

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred on the southbound transition road from Highway 62 to eastbound I-10 on Thursday afternoon.

The coroner’s office identified the victim as 28-year-old Eugene Bess Jr., a Yucca Valley resident who’s from Pompano, Florida. He was riding a Suzuki motorcycle when he lost control while making a left turn on the bridge.

The crash happened at about 4 p.m. and caused CHP officers to shut down three westbound lanes of the freeway. They reopened the lanes two hours later.

The motorcycle ended up drifting to the right and struck the concrete bridge wall and railing. Officers said the impact caused Bess Jr. to be thrown from the motorcycle and he ended up landing on a Buick Lacrosse that was traveling on westbound I-10 in the No. 3 lane.

Bess Jr. died at the scene.

The Buick was being driven by a 34-year-old woman from Santa Ana and there was a total of five people in the car at the time. Officers said nobody in the car was injured.

The collision is still under investigation, but authorities said alcohol and/or drugs didn’t appear to be a factor.