Cyclist killed in collision on Highway 140 in Merced County, CHP says

The California Highway Patrol is investigating a collision that left a cyclist dead in Merced County on Sunday.

At about 4:20 a.m., officers responded to the area of Highway 140, east of Lincoln Boulevard for a collision involving a vehicle and a cyclist, according to Officer Eric Zuniga.

Zuniga said the adult male cyclist was traveling east in the eastbound lane of Highway 140 when the front of a 1997 GMC Sierra, also traveling east in the eastbound lane, collided with the rear of the bicycle.

The driver of the GMC, identified as Shane Desalles Sr., did not see the cyclist, according to Zuniga.

The cyclist was transported to Merced Medical Center in Merced where he was later pronounced dead. Zuniga said neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision. Desalles was cooperative with authorities and the collision remains under investigation, according to Zuniga.