PLACER COUNTY, California — A devastating incident unfolded on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, as a 23-year-old Rocklin man lost his life in a suspected drunk motorcycle crash on Highway 65 in Placer County. Authorities reported that the young motorcyclist collided with the rear of a pickup truck, leading to the fatal accident.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the incident, which occurred around 6:50 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Highway 65, just south of Twelve Bridges Drive near Lincoln. According to the CHP’s Auburn office, the Rocklin man was riding a 2000 Honda motorcycle at a high speed in the left lane, approaching slower traffic.
The motorcycle collided with the rear of a 2008 Ford F-250 pickup, driven by a 61-year-old Sacramento man, who was unharmed in the crash. The impact ejected the Rocklin man from his motorcycle, and he came to rest in the right southbound lane of the highway. Furthermore, a 2016 Chrysler 300 traveling in the same direction struck the fallen motorcyclist. The driver of the Chrysler, a 74-year-old Rocklin man, fortunately escaped injury.
Despite the swift response of medics, the young motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The Placer County Coroner’s Office will withhold the release of his name until his family has been notified of the tragic incident.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collision. While authorities have not yet pinpointed the reason for the motorcycle striking the pickup, the CHP suspects that alcohol may have played a role in this deadly crash. The community mourns the loss of a young life, emphasizing the importance of road safety and responsible driving.
