A motorcyclist from Salinas was killed Sunday night in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 101 near Ukiah, prompting California Highway Patrol officers to shut down southbound lanes for more than two hours while they worked the scene. The rider, who was on a 2019 Harley-Davidson, was ejected from the motorcycle and then struck by a 2026 Kia, according to CHP.
Accounts of the crash site differ slightly. As reported by times-standard.com, the collision happened on Highway 101 north of Plant Road near Ukiah, while mendolocal.news places it on southbound U.S. 101 just north of the Highway 253 on-ramp south of Ukiah. Both outlets agree on the core outcome: the motorcyclist died at the scene, and the roadway was closed for hours afterward.
Rider Ejected, Struck by Kia
Per the Times-Standard, CHP said the motorcyclist lost control of the Harley-Davidson, was thrown from the bike, and was then struck by the Kia. The rider, a Salinas resident, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, the Times-Standard's report states. The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The timing of the initial report is also described two different ways. Times-Standard reported that CHP officers from the Ukiah Area office responded at approximately 8:23 p.m., while a CHP incident log reviewed by chpfatal.com lists the motorcycle-versus-vehicle crash as logged at approximately 8:25 p.m. Either way, the crash triggered a lengthy shutdown of the highway during Sunday night traffic.
Highway Shut Down for Hours
One-lane traffic control remained in effect for roughly two and a half hours following the crash, according to the same Times-Standard account. A separate report from mendovoice.com states that all southbound lanes were closed by 8:38 p.m. and did not reopen until 10:59 p.m., leaving drivers rerouted or stopped for close to two and a half hours before traffic resumed moving through the area.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by CHP Officer D. Haddad, the Times-Standard notes. As first reported by Redheaded Blackbelt, the crash information stemmed from a press release issued by CHP's Ukiah office, and Officer Haddad is listed as the investigating officer on the case.
CHP Seeks Witnesses, Urges Caution
The CHP Ukiah Area office is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has related information to come forward, and the public can reach the office at 707-467-4420. The agency also used the incident to repeat its standard safety message, reminding motorists to remain alert, avoid distractions, and drive at safe speeds for roadway and weather conditions. Drivers are further encouraged to maintain safe following distances and avoid unsafe passing maneuvers, per CHP.
Fatal motorcycle crashes remain a persistent problem on California roads generally. State data cited by ots.ca.gov shows 583 motorcyclists were killed in crashes statewide in 2023, down from 649 the year before. Just two months earlier, a separate fatal motorcycle crash shut down southbound Highway 101 in East Palo Alto, a reminder that these collisions are not isolated to any one stretch of the freeway.
