Scene of Crash near Palm Desert

Palm Desert – California

A motorcyclist hit three vehicles Thursday morning in a major crash on Highway 74 south of Palm Desert, stated officers from the California Highway Patrol.

The motorcyclist sideswiped a BMW sport utility vehicle that was headed in the opposite direction, while riding around a curve, said the CHP at the scene.

The motorcycle then collided with a GMC pickup and a Mini Cooper.

The motorcycle and Mini Cooper both caught fire.

The 78-year-old man who was riding the motorcycle, was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered major injuries, He was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

No other injuries were reported, officials said. There was no immediate word on any arrests or citations at the scene.

The crash, reported to the highway patrol just before 10 a.m., blocked both sides of the highway, and officials stopped southbound traffic near the southern edge of Palm Desert.

San Mateo – California

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Mateo early this morning, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The motorcyclist was involved in the second of two collisions that occurred within minutes of each other just south of Dore Avenue, CHP Officer Curtis Glace said.

In the first crash, reported at 5:12 a.m., the driver of a silver Toyota Corolla apparently fell asleep at the wheel and veered left, crashing into the center divider, Glace said.

A short time later, a second collision occurred that involved the motorcyclist, a Honda CR-V and possibly a big-rig, Glace said.

The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and died at the scene, Glace said.

The driver of the Toyota was taken to a hospital as a precaution, he said. No one else was injured.

It is not yet clear how the second accident happened, but Glace said the motorists involved might have lost control while trying to avoid the first crash.

Witnesses told the CHP that a big-rig was involved in the second crash, but that driver did not stop at the scene, Glace said.

“We’re not sure if the big-rig knows they’re involved,” he said.

Fairfield – California

A 24-year-old man died Monday night of injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident in Fairfield on Saturday, a Sacramento County coroner’s office spokeswoman said this morning.

Cameron Arana, who lived at Travis Air Force Base, died at 11:16 p.m. at the University of California Davis Medical Center, according to Mary Her, a senior office assistant at the coroner’s office.

Arana was speeding north on Peabody Road on his motorcycle when he crashed near Waterworks Lane around 1:10 a.m., Fairfield police Sgt. Kevin Carella said.

He might have been racing a silver Acura before he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a signpost, Carella said. The other vehicle did not stop.

Arana was taken to Vaca Valley Medical Center in Vacaville and then transferred by helicopter to the UC Davis Medical Center, Carella said.

Chula Vista – California

A 63-year-old Chula Vista man died Thursday after he sustained critical injuries in a motorcycle crash in the 8900 block of Campo Road.

The man, who has yet to be identified pending next-of-kin notification, was traveling westbound on Campo Road into Casa de Oro when he struck a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was attempting to turn left into a driveway at 8944 Campo Rd., according to CHP officer Brian Pennings.

Pennings said that the rider applied his breaks and laid down the 2009 Kawasaki Concourse motorcycle on its side before sliding into the right rear tire of the Jeep, which was being driven by Wendy Antisdel, 48, of Spring Valley.

Campo Road was closed in both directions while emergency medical personnel attended to the rider, and law enforcement officers investigated the scene. He was transferred to a local hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries and died.

Antisdel was not injured. There is no evidence at this time that alcohol was a factor in the crash, according to Pennings.

Bakersfield – California

A motorist died Wednesday evening after his motorcycle collided with an SUV.

The person’s name and age had not been released as of Thursday morning.

The SUV was traveling southbound on Sequoia Drive approaching Belle Avenue at 5:18 p.m., according to a California Highway Patrol news release. The motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Sequoia Drive and was behind the SUV.

The driver of the motorcycle tried to pass the SUV on its left as the SUV began a left turn onto Belle Avenue, the news release said. The motorcycle struck the left side of the SUV and the driver was thrown from the motorcycle.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at Kern Medical Center about a half hour after the crash.

I send my heartfelt prayers and condolences to the family and friends of all of the victims in all of the motorcycle accidents that have occurred this week throughout the State of California.

With the warm weather expected this weekend here in California, I know that all of the bikers and motorcyclist will be out riding their motorcycles.

Take it easy everyone, and be careful.

California Motorcycle Accident Attorney and Biker Lawyer