COMMUNITY RALLIES TO HELP LAKESIDE SADDLETRAMPS AFTER FATAL CRASH

Funds to help families, blood drive, and card collection planned

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2010 (Lakeside) – Two funds have been established to help the families of four members of the Saddletramps motorcycle club in Lakeside who lost their lives in a tragic accident November 13th.  Community members have also rallied to organize a blood drive and collect sympathy cards.

“These families include one who lost both a mom and dad, leaving behind two young sons. The families are in need of aid to help with funeral costs as well as money for food, utilities and the basics of life,” a press release from the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce states.

Donations may be sent to: The Saddletramps, c/o The Smiths (President of the Club) at 16204 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, CA 91901.

A Harley Davidson dealer is hosting a blood drive on Saturday, November 20th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help those who remain hospitalized with wounds ranging from internal injuries to broken bones to brain hemorrhaging. An American Red Cross bloodmobile will be at the Harley Davidson dealership at 5600 Kearny Mesa Rd. in San Diego.

The El Capitan Parents and Teachers Association (PTSA) is collecting gift cards for the Trayer and Heath families at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market today, Thursday, November 18, 2010 4 to 8 PM. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market 9720 Wintergardens Blvd. in Lakeside. Purchase the gift cards inside the store and then place them in the collection container at the door.

A memorial services for friends and family of the victims will be held at The Renegade, 14335 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon, on on Sunday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m.
 

Local Saddletramp members Lance and Amy Heath of Alpine, Bill Miller of Ramona, and Tonya Trayer of El Cajon died in the accident on Highway 98 east of Ocotillo. A gold Honda civic crossed the center line, causing another vehicle to swerve. The second vehicle struck the motorcycles, killing the four club members as well as the driver’s passenger, Ana Lilia Gonzalez. The vehicle that struck the cyclists has been cleared in a blood alcohol test; authorities continue to seek the Honda that fled the scene.

Injured are Kelly Halley, Wilson Trayer, William Barnes and Melanie Barnes.

A trust fund has been established to help the Trayer family, NBC news reports. The Trayers had three children. Donations can be made through the Union Bank of El Cajon, at 580 North 2nd St.