Merced County identifies two people killed in hit-and-run. Search for driver underway

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified a motorcyclist and passenger killed in a collision near Gustine on Wednesday, as Joshua Price, 40, and Audra Ketcher, 42.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Price and Ketcher were riding a 2007 Suzuki GSXR south on Highway 33 near Marshall Road just after 8 a.m. Louie Nunes, 52, of Gustine, was driving a 2015 GMC Sierra in front of the motorcycle and slowed to make a left turn onto private property.

The CHP said that, for unknown reasons, the Suzuki collided with the rear of the truck. The collision caused both Price and Ketcher to be ejected from the motorcycle. A tractor-trailer traveling in the northbound lane of Highway 33 braked and moved the vehicle to the left but wasn’t able to avoid hitting the motorcycle and possibly both Price and Ketcher, according to authorities.

Price and Ketcher were pronounced dead at the scene.

Nunes cooperated with authorities, but the driver of the big rig fled the scene. The truck was last seen traveling north on Highway 33, the CHP said.

The CHP asks anyone with information about the collision to contact the Los Banos CHP office at 209-826-3811.