Head-On Collision Sends Cyclist Off Bridge
Early in the morning of Thursday, May 13, 2021, a motorcyclist was involved in a collision with a passenger vehicle and was ejected off a bridge south of Main Street near Willits on Highway 101. The rider suffered fatal injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The Willits crash was reported to 9-1-1 just before 3:00 a.m. It was described as a head-on collision at the north end of Willits. Two vehicles were reported to be on fire.
Shortly after the initial report, it was confirmed that the Mendocino County Coroner’s Office had declared the motorcyclist dead at the scene. Officials have recently identified the decedent as 68-year-old Wayne Allen Berry of Arroyo Grande.
Further Details of the Willits Crash
Subsequent reports following the scene investigation revealed that the other involved vehicle was a Pontiac Grand Prix that had been traveling north on the highway when the driver let his car cross the double yellow lines, at which time it collided with a BMW motorcycle that was traveling southbound.
The impact of the head-on collision sent both the motorcycle and its rider over the edge of the elevated Willits Bypass bridge. Meanwhile, the Grand Prix ignited. The driver of the Grand Prix, a 30-year-old Crescent City man named Michael Confer, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into Mendocino County Jail after evaluation of his minor injuries. He faces charges of vehicular manslaughter.
The tragic incident resulted in traffic being detoured through Willits for more than two hours as investigators gathered evidence and the scene was cleared.
Investigation into the crash continues, and anyone with relevant information is asked to come forward.
The Scourge of Impaired Driving
It saddens and enrages us to report on this fatal crash. A man was killed because another man chose to get behind the wheel while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Crossing the centerline is one example of how an impaired driver can be a danger on the roads, but it is certainly not the only one. Police officers use a guide to impairment that was created as a result of research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The guide is called The Visual Detection of DWI Motorists. It is useful for other motorists on the road to be aware of the signs of impaired driving and call 9-1-1 if they encounter a suspected drunk or drugged driver.
Behaviors of Impaired Drivers
The NHTSA DWI guide includes information gleaned from interviews with police officers across the country. On the basis of those interviews, 100+ driving cues were determined to be predictive of DUI with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of at least 0.08. The number of cues was then pared down to 24 on the basis of field studies of hundreds of police officers during upwards of 12,000 DUI enforcement stops. The 24 driving cues fell into the following categories:
- Problems with speed and braking
- Problems with the maintenance of correct lane position
- Problems with vigilance
- Problems with judgment
The cues within the above categories are able to predict an impaired driver at least 35% of the time.
If you see a driver weaving across lane lines, such as was the case in the tragic Willits crash, the probability of DUI is greater than 50%. Couple the weaving with any other listed cue, and the probability increases to at least 65%. Any two cues combined (other than weaving) amounts to a probability of impairment of at least 50%. Some behaviors such as accelerating for no reason, driving outside the roadway, and swerving represent a DUI probability of more than 70% on their own.
Watch the YouTube video. The news clip below discusses how officers look for impaired drivers.
Willits Car Accident Lawyer
Thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Willits, California. Wrongful death is defined as a fatality that results from the negligence of another person or entity. The grieving family of the deceased may have a claim for damages related to the untimely and sudden death. For compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice following a major accident, please call us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo: pixabay
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