Motorcycle-truck crash near Keyes was apparent suicide

A man died Tuesday morning after his motorcycle collided with a big rig at Keyes Road and Central Avenue a few miles west of Keyes.

Stanislaus County sheriff's officials said the motorcyclist intentionally drove into the big rig's path in an apparent suicide. The man, who was in his early 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene, said sheriff's Sgt. Brandon Kiely. Sheriff's officials did not release the man's name pending family notification.

Kiely said the big rig driver was not injured. The crash occurred shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday. The man was driving his motorcycle west on the Keyes Road overpass over Highway 99 when he took off his helmet and gloves, Kiely said. The motorcyclist entered the oncoming lane to pass a vehicle in front of him. Kiely said the motorcyclist stayed in the oncoming lane for almost a mile before he collided head-on with the big rig. The big rig was stopped at the stop sign in the Keyes Road eastbound lane at North Central Avenue. "He continued to accelerate before he hit the big rig," Kiely said. "There were no brake marks or hesitation on this guy's part."