SANTIAGO CANYON – A half-dozen motorcyclists have died riding on Santiago Canyon Road since July, alarming bikers who say the bucolic stretch of winding highway is alluring but deceptively dangerous.

“It kind of sucks you in,” said Tim Grim an aerospace executive from Lake Forest, as he sat on his Harley-Davidson Street Glide in the parking lot of Cook’s Corner, the iconic biker bar at the south end of Santiago Canyon Road.

“There are no cops. It’s got beautiful scenery. It’s a hop, skip and a jump outside of the city.

“But you’ve got to know your limits.”

WHY NOW?

Santiago Canyon Road runs just 11 miles, connecting the 241 Toll Road southeast to El Toro Road. With one lane in each direction, it winds past brushy mountains, upscale homes, horse stables and Irvine Lake. The road has been maintained by the county since the 1930s, but several police agencies now patrol different stretches.

The half-dozen fatalities on Santiago since early July nearly equals the seven motorcycle-related deaths on the road since 2011, according to Orange County Coroner’s Division records.

Three of the recent crashes are under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, two are being handled by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and one by the Orange Police Department. None of the investigations are complete and it hasn’t been determined whether automobile drivers or motorcyclists were at fault.

Investigators say they aren’t looking at a common thread — such as driving under the influence or speeding — in the recent accidents.

“I don’t want to downplay the tragedies, but I also don’t want to give the impression that there’s a single reason they all happened,” said Sgt. Ray Wert, who heads the Sheriff’s Department’s traffic and auto theft bureau.

He added that the incidents aren’t a sign of a new safety problem in the area.

MOTORCYCLISTS WEIGH IN

Traffic records show there have been at least 73 accidents on Santiago Canyon Road in the last five years involving all types of motor vehicles, said Shannon Widor, spokesman for Orange County Public Works. Improper turning, followed by driving under the influence, right-of-way violations and unsafe speed were the most common factors in those crashes.

Though 73 accidents over five years on a road that carries just 9,000 vehicles a day might seem higher than what you’d find on a multi-lane freeway or tollway, Widor and other traffic experts said it’s actually lower than average when comparing Santiago to other two-lane, winding highways.

Not every motorcycle rider agrees with that.

The traffic is dense enough that it can be difficult for cars and motorcycles to safely coexist, said Mike Peck of Anaheim Hills, who regularly rides Santiago on his Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Limited.

“There are a lot motorcycles and a lot of vehicle traffic,” he said.

Peck’s wife, who often rides on the back of his bike during their regular trips through Santiago Canyon, has a bird’s eye view of other hazards.

“There are a lot of inexperienced (motorcycle) riders,” Karen Peck said. “They don’t know how to be defensive in their driving.”

Drivers distracted by their cell phones, who drift out of travel lanes and into the paths of oncoming motorcycles, also pose a danger on Santiago Canyon Road, she added.

SPEEDING

Another factor is speed.

“The speed limit is 55, but no one goes 55 there,” said Florentino Olivera, a CHP officer who sometimes patrols the area.

Santiago Canyon Road’s tricky terrain also can be challenging, especially after dark. O.C. Sheriff’s Sgt. Wert pointed out that Santiago is the longest, unlit stretch of road in Orange County.

“Add in hills and curves, then it’s an area where if motorists aren’t careful they’re going to get hit

Others blame riders and drivers, not the road.

There would be fewer crashes on Santiago Canyon Road if motorcyclists and vehicle drivers simply paid more attention to each other, said Joanne Hubble, who has lived in the canyon for 37 years.

“Carelessness is huge,” said Joanne Hubble, who has lived in the Santiago Canyon area for 37 years.

“This is not a forgiving road. You are going to die if you are on a motorcycle and hit by a car. The pavement doesn’t care.”

6 DEATHS, 7 WEEKS:

JULY 11: Christopher Carlson, 65, died around 8:30 a.m. when his motorcycle, traveling north, collided with a Toyota Tundra, heading south on Santiago Canyon Road. Though the accident remains under investigation, drugs and alcohol are not believed to have played a role.

JULY 16: Michael Hogan, 58, of La Habra, died around 2 p.m. after a motorcycle he was riding hit a truck near Santiago Canyon Road and Modjeska Grade Road. The truck driver, Kurt Wizner, 65, was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, sheriff’s officials said.

JULY 18: Navpreet Singh, 19, of Ladera Ranch died when his motorcycle hit a sedan while traveling southbound on Santiago Canyon Road near Silverado Canyon Road. Jose Briseneo, 25, of Hemet, was driving a Honda Accord northbound on Santiago Road and veered right, into Singh’s path. Briseneo’s vehicle continued traveling until it struck a Nissan Altima, also in southbound lanes, the report said. Singh was pronounced dead at the scene and no other injuries were reported. Briseneo was not charged.

AUG. 1: Drew Ketter, 55 of Midway City, died when his motorcycle was involved in a hit-and-run near the intersection of Santiago Canyon Road and Falcon Street in Modjeska Canyon. Ketter’s wife, JoAnne Ketter, a passenger on the motorcycle, was severely injured but survived. Police searched the area by foot and air, trying to find the driver. A man was arrested a day later and initially accused of being the driver, but he later was not charged. The crash remains under investigation.

AUG. 14: Arthur Bustos, 50, of Riverside County, died Aug 28, two weeks after his motorcycle struck a car waiting at a traffic light on the westbound side of Santiago Canyon Road, just east of the 241 tollway. A car in oncoming traffic made a u-turn, prompting Bustos and a passenger to swerve left into another vehicle, according to Orange Police. Bustos’ passenger suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

AUG. 21: Carl Riesing, 58, died after he drove his motorcycle off Santiago Canyon Road and fell about 20 feet, getting pinned against a chain-link fence. He was traveling north near Irvine Lake in an unincorporated area of Silverado.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@ocregister.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline