A dramatic, fiery scene on a Dulzura road led to the death of one motorcyclist and the arrest of four others over the weekend.
The California Highway Patrol said Sunday morning, San Diego resident Navid Zamani, 25, was riding his 2010 Ducati motorcycle east on State Route 94 with six fellow riders behind.
As they neared Barrett Lake Road, a GMC pickup truck, driven by a 24-year-old Santee resident, made a left turn in front of them.
Zamani crashed into the front of the SUV and was thrown onto the dirt shoulder. He died from his injuries there. The driver of the GMC was not injured.
As paramedics tried to save Zamani, San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies say Jon Regenhardt, a fellow rider, began to interfere at the scene.
Regenhardt was arrested with three other motorcyclists – Tim Parker, Jason Thompson and Antonio Tapia – who deputies say were behind the ambulance and fire truck, passed the vehicles and crossed into the opposite lane.
Deputies cited Regenhardt for interfering, while the three others were cited for reckless driving. All were released at the scene.
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The four motorcyclists say they were not interfering, but instead were just dealing with the death of their friend before their eyes. They claim the sheriff’s department was wrong in arresting them.
The incident is still under investigation. The U.S. Border Patrol, which helped deputies with the arrests, declined to comment on the incident.
Regenhardt told NBC 7 friends of Zamani gathered at Barrett Junction Café in Dulzura Monday to mourn his death. They created a makeshift memorial, which included Zamani’s Chargers jersey.