MERCED COUNTY, California — The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has officially identified the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred earlier this month on Interstate 5 in Merced County. According to Deputy Michael Dominguez, the deceased was identified on April 22nd, 2024, as 36-year-old Ledontea Sellers, a resident of Contra Costa County.
The incident, which transpired on April 7, drew the attention of California Highway Patrol officers who were dispatched to the scene around 11:53 p.m. The crash site was located in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5, just north of Canyon Road.
Preliminary reports from the California Highway Patrol indicate that Sellers was operating a 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle at the time of the accident. He was reportedly in the process of overtaking a slower-moving truck hauling a box trailer in the northbound lane. Tragically, as Sellers attempted to pass the truck, two tires dislodged from the trailer, colliding with the motorcycle.
The impact caused Sellers to be forcefully ejected from his motorcycle, resulting in a fatal collision with the roadway. Despite the swift response of emergency personnel, Sellers succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident.
The precise circumstances leading to the detachment of the trailer tires remain under investigation by authorities. However, this devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers faced by motorcyclists on California’s roadways. As investigations continue, friends and family of Ledontea Sellers mourn the untimely loss of their loved one.
