2 killed in pair of cycle crashes

Two motorcyclists were killed in two accidents Monday evening and Tuesday morning in Merced County.

The latest crash was reported at 7:30 a.m. just north of Atwater, at Bu-hach and Oakdale roads.

Gabriel Houser, 34, of Modesto was riding a 2008 Buell motorcycle east on Oakdale. Meanwhile, the driver of a truck, 78-year-old Jesus Saucedo of Winton, was traveling north on Buhach Road in a GMC Canyon pickup, according to California Highway Patrol officer Ed Macias.

At the intersection, stop signs are posted on Buhach, but not on Oakdale, Macias said.

The driver of the truck stopped at the intersection, but then continued without seeing Houser, the CHP reported. The truck moved directly in front of Houser, his motorcycle overturned, and he was thrown onto the road, according to the CHP.

Houser's body struck the left side of the pickup, and he was killed, according to the CHP. Officers said he was wearing a helmet; he was pronounced dead at the scene. DUI was not a factor in the crash, according to the CHP.

Houser had worked as a technology services coordinator at UC Merced's Kolligian Library since 2005.

The other motorcycle fatality was reported Monday evening after two men crashed into a trailer in Delhi. The crash happened at 6:06 p.m. on El Capitan Way, east of Sycamore Street. A 53-year-old Delhi man, identified as John Manuel Delgado, was riding a 2003 Yamaha motorcycle near 54-year-old Alan Jay Garen of Delhi, who was riding a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle. Both were traveling at an undetermined speed on El Capitan.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jay Alldrin of Delhi was inside a parked 1999 Dodge Ram with a trailer attached. Alldrin backed the trailer out of a driveway, blocking both lanes of El Capitan, according to the CHP. Both motorcyclists crashed into the trailer, CHP said.

According to dispatch calls, the driver of the truck reported that he had not seen the motorcyclists as he was backing out.

Delgado was taken to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, where he died.

Garen was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with major injuries.

DUI was not a factor in the crash, the CHP said.

Seven fatalities were reported in traffic collisions in Merced County from Sunday evening through Tuesday morning.