By Miriam Raftery

November 29,  2016 (Ramona)—The motorcyclist killed Friday morning on Highway 79 in Santa Ysabel in a collision with a Prius has been identified as Victor Earhart,  70, a prominent skateboarder who inspired fans of all ages. 

Sector 9, a skateboard company where Earhart worked and performed as a team writer,  posted a  tribute titled “Legends Never Die” that praised him as “a great ambassador for skateboarding and a legend to many. He was always down to ride skateboards rain or shine, dirt or asphalt. He was very loved by all and will be sorely missed in the skateboard community.”

March 25, 2013 (Warner Springs) -- Sgt. Gil Cortez, an officer with the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, was killed along with his service dog after his vehicle rolled over this morning on State Route 79 half a mile south of San Felipe Road.

Cortez was leading several corrections vehicles taking dogs to conduct drug searches at La Cima Conservation Camp in Julian, a fire training camp for inmates. For unknown reasons, he lost control of the Crown Victoria, which rolled over and landed upright.  Officers rushed to extricate Cortez, who was taken to the Warner Springs Fire Station but died before he could be airlifted to a hospital.