Oroville man killed in Highway 70 motorcycle accident in Yuba County; witnesses sought
An Oroville motorcyclist was killed Friday morning on Highway 70 north of Marysville, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Daniel Seiple, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Yuba County Coroner's Office after he crashed into the rear of an empty trailer hauled by a 1997 Freightliner on Highway 70 north of Noble Road.
The truck driver, Gerardo Mendoza Rios, 55, of Tracy, was not hurt, the CHP said.
Investigators said Rios was northbound on Highway 70 about 6 a.m. hauling two empty trailers when he missed his turn on the west side of the roadway and decide to make a U-turn into the southbound lane. He turned in front of Seiple who was traveling between 55-60 mph on a 1999 Yamaha motorcycle.
The CHP said Seiple "possibly misjudged the speed of (Rios' vehicle) and struck the rear trailer without braking."
The Yuba County Sheriff's Department, Marysville Fire Department and Bi-County Ambulance responded to the scene. The southbound lane of traffic was blocked for several hours as emergency crews scrambled to clean up the scene.
Traffic was allowed to pass through the center divide, the CHP said.
The CHP is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the Yuba-Sutter office at 674-5141.
