On Tuesday, a collision at the busy intersection of Isabel Avenue and Stanley Boulevard in Livermore left a 50-year-old motorcyclist dead and an 87-year-old driver with minor injuries, authorities said.
The crash occurred at about 1 PM when a motorcycle and a sedan collided at the intersection. First responders found the rider with life-threatening injuries and immediately began CPR. Paramedics rushed her to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The sedan’s driver, an 87-year-old Pleasanton woman, suffered minor injuries and was treated and released.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a preliminary investigation by the Livermore Police Department found that the motorcyclist allegedly failed to stop at a red light before entering the intersection. Police told the Chronicle that the driver of the sedan is cooperating with investigators and that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau later identified the rider as Janelle Benson Weispfenning, 50, of Livermore, after notifying her family, Pleasanton Weekly reported. Local accounts say she had been riding a sport bike northbound on Isabel Avenue when the collision occurred.
Patch reports that the motorcycle struck a newer gray sedan that was turning left on Isabel Avenue. Patch and police reports note that the 87-year-old driver sustained only minor injuries, was released after treatment, and that investigators have not announced any charges.
Intersection Has Seen Serious Crashes Before
This stretch of Highway 84/Isabel Avenue has seen serious and fatal collisions in the past, prompting safety reviews by city officials, according to the City of Livermore. Local reporting has also documented earlier motorcycle crashes at nearby junctions, adding to long-standing concerns about traffic safety along the corridor.
Livermore police say the investigation into Tuesday’s crash remains active and have asked anyone with information or video from the area to contact the department. We will update this post as the Livermore Police Department and the Alameda County Coroner release more details.
