Separate collisions on Highway 99, Sisk kill two motorcyclists in same day in Modesto

A 40-year-old Modesto man was killed in a motorcycle collision Friday afternoon on Highway 99, the second fatal crash involving a motorcyclist that day in the city.

According to a California Highway Patrol report, calls came in at about 4:05 p.m. reporting a multi-vehicle collision on the highway, north of the Carpenter Road exit. Emergency personnel arrived to find a Yamaha motorcycle and its rider in the roadway.

After a preliminary investigation, CHP said the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on Highway 99 behind a Dodge van in the left lane and Freightliner semi truck in the middle lane. When approaching the vehicles, the report said the motorcyclist struck the right rear of the Dodge, throwing him from the bike.

He landed in the path of the semi truck’s rear axle and was run over.

The drivers of the Dodge and the Freightliner pulled over into the center median following the collision and waited for authorities to arrive. Neither of the other drivers were injured in the crash.

The motorcycle rider, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was taken by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center with major injuries. The man, whose name has not been released by CHP, later succumbed to his injuries.

It is unknown if drugs and/or alcohol were a factor and the investigation of the collision continues. Inquiries or information about the incident should go to the Modesto area CHP.

The fatal crash was the second Friday involving a motorcycle rider. Earlier that day around 12:15 p.m. a motorcyclist died in a collision with a car on Sisk Road and Conant Avenue.

The Highway 99 collision was also the fourth fatal incident involving a motorcycle rider in Modesto in the last few weeks.

On May 26, Keyes resident Esteban Diaz, 38, died in a solo motorcycle crash when CHP said he drifted off of Shiloh Road, south of Paradise Road, and hit a fence in southwest Modesto.

A few days later, on May 30, Oakdale resident James Harris, 31, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Chevy Tahoe on Coffee Road and Morris Avenue in central Modesto.