Early Sunday morning, an intoxicated driver attempted to pass another car in foggy weather and hit a motorcyclist head-on. The collision occurred on Highway 41 in Madera County, and the motorcyclist was killed, said the California Highway Patrol. A 49-year-old driver from Coarsegold was driving north on Highway 41 in a 2006 Toyota Sienna. He hit the Suzuki motorcyclist, a 57-year-old man from Clovis, just after midnight near Avenue 15. His passenger was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered major personal injuries. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, and listed in critical condition.
According to news reports, the driver who hit the motorcyclist was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and booked into Madera County Department of Corrections. He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and a felony DUI. Visibility at the time of the collision was 200-500 feet. As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I hope the motorcycle passenger with minor injuries heals quickly and my thoughts go out to the family of the motorcyclist. It is best to slow down in unsafe driving conditions and keep a long following distance between your car and the car in front of you. Keep windows rolled down, keep the low beams on, and avoid changing lanes during these conditions.
