A motorcyclist died after colliding with a tractor-trailer in a Morgan Hill traffic accident during the afternoon rush hour Aug. 17, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities identified the motorcyclist as Vanessa Rodriguez, 30, of Sunnyvale.
The accident occurred about 2:21pm Aug. 17, when Rodriguez was driving a black Honda Rebel motorcycle, at an unknown speed, southbound on U.S. 101 just north of Cochrane Road, according to the CHP.
As the motorcycle approached the Cochrane Road exit, Rodriguez was splitting traffic by traveling between the two traffic lanes on the right side of the freeway, police said. For an unknown reason, Rodriguez lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the left side of a trailer pulled by a 2015 Freightliner big-rig. The truck was traveling in the far right southbound lane of U.S. 101.
The collision caused Rodriguez and the Honda motorcycle to slide under the Freightliner’s trailer. Rodriguez and the motorcycle became entangled with the trailer’s rear axle, and were dragged for about 100 yards before the truck came to a stop, according to authorities.
Paramedics who responded to the emergency attempted to render aid to Rodriguez, but were unable to revive her at the scene, police said.
Authorities do not think alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.
