Future delays driving Hwy 243

Beginning Monday, July 25 through the end of August, CAL TRANS will be do maintenance on Highway 243 from Saunders Meadow Rd to Black Mountain Road.

The maintenance work will occur from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.on days during this period and they estimate delays could be up to 15 minutes due to flagging at various locations.

Hwy 243 maintenace Next week

Cal Trans is planning maintenance work on Highway 243 next week (Nov. 10 and 12). see below for the details.

Wed & Fri Nov 10 & 12

SR-243 from Poppet Flats to Twin Pines (below Idyllwild)

Flagging

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Drain repair

Nov. 3 Highway 243 cycle collision

Around noon on Wed., Nov. 3, a motorcyclist northbound on State Highway 243 just south of the grinding station rounded a curve, crossed the yellow line and collided with the left rear tail light assembly of a southbound tandem multi-axle truck, according to California Highway Patrol officer Mike Murawski.

The bike skidded and came to rest north of the collision point near the shoulder of the northbound lane, closing traffic in both directions for nearly 30 minutes. The driver of the motorcycle, who appeared to be in his 30’s and is unidentified at the time of this writing, was airlifted from the Mountain Center helipad. The Forest Service served as incident commander since they were first on the scene, aided by Idyllwild Fire and CAL FIRE. There is no word of the motorcyclist’s condition at this time.

Murawski cited excessive speed on the part of the motorcyclist as a probable cause of the incident. Murawski acknowledged the high number of motorcycle collisions on Hill highways and noted that excessive speed by the cyclists is the primary contributing factor. “I write them tickets and it’s like a game of cat and mouse,” he said. “They know the [speed] laws. They just choose to disobey them.”

Authorities seek Lake Fulmor skull ID

Riverside County Sheriff's Department Homicide unit is seeking information about the identity of a man whose skull was found just off Highway 243 about two miles east of Lake Fulmor on May 18, 2010.

Homicide detectives released a composite sketch of the man based on the bone structure of the skull. He is believed to be Caucasian between 20 and 40 years old at the time of death. Detectives, who are treating the case as a homicide, estimate the skull had been at the Lake Fulmor area site for some time. No additional skeletal remains were found, just the skull. Because of the skull's condition, it can't be tested for DNA.

At the time of discovery in May, detectives searched outstanding missing persons reports but found no match or leads.

Homicide is hoping that by publishing the composite sketch and calling attentiion to the case and location where the skull was found, people might come forward with information that could lead to identifying the individual.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call Investigator Rick Simms at (760) 393-3524 or the Sheriff's homicide tipline website at www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline.