Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 11, 2012 at approximately 2100 hours, Sondra Reynolds called the Sheriff’s Office to report her husband missing. A deputy contacted Mrs. Reynolds and learned that her husband, (V) Neil Reynolds, had gone motorcycle riding with friends on Sunday. At approximately 1400 hours, Neil and his friends parted ways at the intersection of Lockwood Valley Road and Highway 33. Neil’s friends drove east on Lockwood Valley Road and Neil left by himself on Highway 33 southbound toward Ojai.

By evening, Neil had not returned home. Sondra called his friends to see if they had any idea what had happened. They told her he had been doing fine and was not in any distress. They were surprised he had not returned. Because Neil is an experienced motorcycle rider and is never late unless he calls her, Sondra became worried that he had crashed while riding alone. The deputy took the missing person report and a broadcast was made in an attempt to locate Neil.

In the early morning of 3-12-12, Sgt. Underlin was briefed by the patrol Watch Commander on the missing person. Sgt. Underlin called the Lockwood Valley Station and asked them to drive Highway 33 looking for any sign that Neil may have crashed and gone off the road. Sr. Dep. Scott Ramirez responded for the search. Patrol units from the Ojai station were also dispatched to search Highway 33 from Ojai to Lockwood Valley Road. In addition, Sgt. Underlin called in the crew of Air Squad 9 and they launched to the area to search as well.

At 0800 hours, Sr. Dep. Ramirez located Neil on the north side of Pine Mountain at mile marker 45.00. Neil had crashed shortly after leaving his friends at Lockwood Valley Road. He had crashed off the south side of the road and went down a steep embankment approximately 50 feet. Neil’s motorcycle came to rest on top of him and he was partially concealed by a bush. Neil was awake and alert and had been trapped under his motorcycle in freezing temperatures for approximately 17 hours. Air Squad 9 landed a few minutes later near the crash site.

The crew of Air Squad 9 and Sr. Dep. Ramirez worked together to free Neil from under his motorcycle and provide medical care. They used the winch on the front of Sr. Dep. Ramirez’s patrol truck to get the motorcycle off Neil. He had sustained moderate injuries and was flown to the Ventura County Medical Center where his care was transferred to the waiting hospital staff.

Nature of Incident: Missing Motorcycle Rider
Report Number: 12-5606
Location: North side of Pine Mountain on Highway 33, near mile marker 45.00
Date & Time: 3-12-12 / 0815 hours
Unit Responsible: Aviation / SAR Unit and the Lockwood Valley Station
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(V) Reynolds, Neil Woodland Hills, Ca 67 years
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sr. Dep. Shane Matthews
Media Release Date: 3-12-12
Follow-Up Contact: Sr. Dep. Shane Matthews
Approved by: Captain O’Hanlon

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).