The California Highway Patrol is investigating the possible deliberate act of spreading motor oil along areas of Glendora Mountain Road.
A motorcycle rider posted a short video of the alleged deliberate act after it happened along the winding mountain road Sunday, March 8. The rider believes the driver of a red SUV seen in the video parked near where an oil slick later appeared is the suspect.
California Highway Patrol investigators are still in the initial stages of the investigation and are asking the motorcyclist who recorded and posted the video to come forward, speak with investigators and help bring the perpetrator to justice.
“We need the media’s help in trying to find out who the rider is, so we can get more information,” said Rodrigo Jimenez, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park office. “It’s very alarming that someone may have intentionally done this.”
The oil slicks likely occurred between Big Dalton Canyon Road and Glendora Ridge Road as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works closed GMR Sunday between those two points to clean up the oil.
A couple of residents saw the video and contacted the CHP March 9 out of concern for what may be happening and the CHP started the investigation soon after.
The rider, who goes by the Youtube name guser210 witnessed and recorded the driver of a red SUV seen in the area 30 minutes before the oil slicks appear on the road. The driver of the SUV was, according to guser210, acting suspiciously in the area.
The oil appeared very fresh. So fresh that guser210 could smell it, according to his account posted in the video.
This is the second time this act has reportedly occurred. On a blog for cycling enthusiasts dated Feb. 20, riders documented three “hydraulic oil slicks” on Glendora Mountain Road between mile markers 8.89 and 5.51. The oil covered both lanes, according to the blog.
Glendora Mountain Road is frequented by many cycling groups, automobile racers and motorcyclists for its twists and turns. GMR is also the scene of many crashes, injuries and even deaths sustained from rider and drivers going far too fast on the winding mountain road.
“We just need [the rider] to come forward and talk with him so we can hopefully find out who’s doing this,” Jimenez said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Baldwin Park office at (626) 338-1164 Monday through Friday and ask for CHP Investigator Rob Bernardino.
