A 58-year-old Ceres woman was identified as the crash victim who died Saturday night after the motorcycle she was a passenger on crashed on Highway 99 in Manteca.
The crash was caused, in part, by the commotion created by a man who eventually led authorities on a three-county car chase, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Winona Moore, 58, died after her husband lost control of the motorcycle they were on as it was going south on 99 just north of Yosemite Avenue, according to CHP officer Angel Arceo.
Just before the crash, Manteca police were pursuing Brett Phares, 28, of Manteca, who was wanted for questioning in Manteca burglaries. He had just been spotted by officers about 6:40 p.m. Saturday near the Carl's Jr. restaurant at 1485 Hulsey Way, just north of Highway 120.
When officers approached Phares, police said he made a run for it, jumping a fence onto an onramp of southbound Highway 99. He ran across the southbound lanes and entered the northbound lanes before turning back to the southbound lanes.
About that time, the motorcyclist, traveling about 70 mph, became distracted by Phares. When the driver looked back on the road, traffic in front of him had come to a halt, Arceo said. The motorcyclist went into the median to avoid hitting anyone and began braking. He then laid the bike down on its right side, Arceo said.
Moore was thrown from the motorcycle. She suffered major head trauma and other injuries. She was taken to a Modesto hospital, where she later was pronounced dead.
The motorcycle driver suffered minor injuries, according to Arceo.
Meanwhile, Phares is in San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of murder, vehicle theft, driving on a suspended license, driving under the influence, resisting arrest and other charges tied to the chase that stretched from San Joaquin County to Merced County and back into Stanislaus County.
Phares also is suspected of carjacking a vehicle belonging to reporter Carlos Rodriguez, whose wife and 2-month-old son were in the vehicle when it was taken. Rodriguez works for Central Valley TV.
Phares apparently drove two exits down the road before letting Rodriguez's wife and child out of the car.
The vehicle Phares was in eventually ran out of gas near Kansas Avenue in Modesto, where he was arrested.
He is due in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton today at 1:30 p.m. in Department Z.
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