The California Highway Patrol has released more information about the fatal motorcycle crash on the Morongo Grade Saturday evening that shut down Highway 62 for three hours. About 7:25 p.m., Lorne Powers, 62, of Joshua Tree, was riding his 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound, just north of the traffic signal at Indian Canyon. The CHP says that due to his high rate of speed, Powers was unable to maintain his lane, and crossed into the number 2 lane where the bike clipped the right side of a 1998 Jeep, driven by Joseph Prine, 20, of Petaluma. Powers lost control of his bike and crashed. Both Powers and his passenger, Amanda Fridley, 48, of Bullhead City, Arizona, were thrown from the bike. Amanda Fridley died at the scene; Lorne Powers was taken to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs where he died from his injuries. It’s not known at this time if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, but the CHP reports that both victims were wearing novelty helmets that are not approved by the DOT.
