Accident Kills Lake Forest Motorcyclist

A Lake Forest motorcyclist died Wednesday afternoon in an area hospital from injuries sustained in a noontime accident at the intersection of Peachwood and Palmwood Drive, authorities said.

The 29-year-old man was driving on Peachwood toward Palmwood Drive when a car sitting at a stop sign on Palmwood pulled out into Peachwood traffic, Orange County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Angel Andrade said.

The motorcyclist, who was driving behind a pick-up truck, braked to avoid the car and slid out, Andrade said.

Investigators believe the driver of the car may not have seen the motorcycle behind the pick-up, which was turning onto Palmwood as the car pulled out onto Peachwood, he said.

Sheriff's deputies and Orange County firefighters responded to the accident and transported the motorcylist, identified Thursday as Steven David Muller, to Mission Hospital, Andrade said.

Muller, who received medical treatment at the scene of the accident, initially seemed stable, according to the sheriff's department.

But at the hospital he was rushed into surgery. Muller died at 2:48 p.m. from injuries sustained in the collision, less than three hours after the accident, according to coronor's records.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing, Andrade said.

This story has been updated.