SAN JOSE — A motorcyclist from the Central Valley died when he lost control on Highway 101 then crashed onto the roadway, then was hit by a trailing vehicle Monday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported at 8:46 a.m. in the southbound lanes approaching Capitol Expressway when, for a reason still under investigation, the rider of a 2001 Yamaha Road Star started to fishtail and then overturned, the CHP said in news release.
The rider ended up lying in the second-most left lane. Moments later, a 2018 Kia Sol SUV hit him and then overturned, the CHP said, and the rider was “propelled” toward a Tesla that had stopped near the center divide after the initial motorcycle crash.
According to the CHP, the rider died at the scene, and was tentatively identified as a 43-year-old man from Gustine in Merced County. His name was not publicly released pending his formal identification and notification of his next of kin by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office, which was closed Tuesday in observance of Veterans Day.
The driver of the Kia that overturned was not seriously injured, the CHP said. Traffic on southbound Highway 101 was restricted to a single lane for about three hours while authorities examined and cleared the crash site.
Anyone with information about the Monday night collision can contact the CHP San Jose area field office at 408-961-0900.