A Morongo Valley man was killed in a motorcycle crash Tuesday on the Morongo Grade. About 5:05 p.m., the California Highway Patrol responded to a crash on Highway 62 at the County Line and found that Gary Berlino II, 30, had crashed his 2003 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle as he was riding down the grade at a high rate of speed. Berlino lost control of his bike and was thrown into the side of the mountain. The motorcycle ended up 75 feet down into the ravine on the west side of the highway. Captain Robert Marquez of the Morongo Valley Fire Department said the debris field from the crash was 300 to 400 yards long. The CHP said Berlino was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but it was not properly fastened and he sustained major head and upper body trauma. Berlino was declared dead at the scene. The westbound lanes of Highway 62 were closed for about two hours. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.
