A 32-year-old motorcyclist from Denair was killed late Thursday morning after he collided with a tractor in the Ballio area, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The name of the victim hasn't been released, pending notification of his family or next-of-kin.
The incident was reported at 11:38 a.m. on Santa Fe Drive near Lombardy Avenue, according to Officer John Patterson, CHP spokesman.
The motorcyclist was riding a 1990 Honda motorcyclist westbound on Santa Fe Drive at an unknown speed. Meanwhile, two tractors were traveling westbound on Santa Fe Drive, in front of the motorcyclist.
Sergio Tinoco, 58, of Winton was driving a Kubota tractor in front of the other tractor.
As the motorcyclist tried to go around the tractors, Tinoco began to turn left onto Lombardy Avenue from Santa Fe Drive. The motorcyclist applied his brakes, trying to avoid a collision with the Kubota tractor.
The motorcycle went down. The victim and his motorcycle slid across the pavement. The motorcyclist struck the left wheel of the Kubota tractor. Although the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, he sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene, Patterson said.
CHP initially reported the crash was a hit and run incident. After an investigation, however, officers determined that wasn't the case.
Tinoco wasn't hurt.
-- Sun-Star staff
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