Motorcycle Crash Near Shelter Valley Ranchos Injures San Miguel Fire Chief

Updated at 10:25 p.m. May 12, 2012

The man who suffered major injuries in a desert motorcycle crash Saturday morning was identified as Augie Ghio, chief of the San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District, U-T San Diego reported.

The paper said Ghio was in serious but stable condition, fire district spokesman Leonard Villarreal said Saturday afternoon.

“He was conscious and in reasonably good spirits, considering the circumstances,” Christopher Winter, a fire district board member who visited, was quoted as saying.

U-T San Diego reported:

Winter said Ghio, on a Harley Davidson, and a friend on another motorcycle were headed across the desert, “out for a nice ride” when the accident occurred. The other rider didn’t see the crash, but returned and found other motorists trying to help Ghio, he said.

Ghio retires May 16.

Original report:

A man was airlifted to a hospital with major injuries Saturday following a motorcycle crash on state Route 78 in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, according to the California Highway Patrol and Cal Fire.

The single-vehicle crash was reported about 9:25 a.m. on state Route 78, near the Shelter Valley Ranchos community, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The rider was flown to Palomar Medical Center to be treated for injuries he suffered in the crash, said Capt. Mike Mohler of Cal Fire.

City News Service contributed to this report