Motorcyclist critically injured in Modesto crash

Driver of car also hurt, taken to hospital

A man was critically injured Thursday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a car trying to make a left turn onto West Orangeburg Avenue in central Modesto, police said.

The man driving the motorcycle suffered major injuries and was taken by ambulance to a Modesto hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition Thursday evening, said police Sgt. Gary Crawford. The man was wearing a helmet.

Crawford said a woman driving a white Toyota sedan suffered a broken wrist and also was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The drivers' names, ages and cities of residence were not available late Thursday. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

The crash occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. at Orangeburg and Carver Road.

Crawford said the motorcycle was heading north on Carver. The car was southbound on Carver, approaching the motorcycle at the intersection. While the vehicles' exact speeds had not been determined, officers said it did not appear either one was traveling at an excessive rate.

Witnesses told police the traffic lights had turned yellow for traffic traveling on Carver just prior to the collision.

Crawford said the car made a left turn, attempting to head east on Orangeburg.

The car and the motorcycle collided in the intersection. The car came to a stop in Orangeburg's eastbound lanes. The motorcycle came to rest on its left side in the intersection, not far from the car.

Officers were investigating what caused the vehicles to collide. Crawford said many motorcycle accidents occur because other drivers fail to spot motorcycles on the road because they are smaller than cars.

Also, he said, the small profile causes some drivers to misjudge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle.

Orangeburg was closed between Grape and Del Vale avenues, in both directions, for a few hours