A 43-year-old man from Gustine died yesterday after his motorcycle began to fishtail and overturned on southbound U.S. 101 in San Jose, where a Kia then struck him, authorities said. The wreck happened around 8:45 PM. The Kia flipped in the crash, and its driver sustained only minor injuries. Five of the freeway’s six southbound lanes were closed for roughly three hours during the investigation.
Investigators told the California Highway Patrol the motorcycle’s rear wheel started to fishtail, sending the bike over and leaving the rider in the roadway, where he was fatally hit by the Kia, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The outlet reported the victim was identified as a 43-year-old Gustine resident; officials have not said what triggered the fishtail.
Local context and safety
Motorcycle crashes continue to be a recurring danger on Bay Area freeways, with riders and safety advocates sounding alarms over speed and lane-changing behavior in recent months. NBC Bay Area has tracked several fatal motorcycle crashes across San Jose this fall, a pattern that officials say complicates enforcement and outreach.
Investigation underway
The CHP is leading the on-scene investigation and has not released further details. Investigators still don’t know why the motorcycle fishtailed, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Officers examined the overturned Kia and the wrecked bike while the roadway was closed.
