Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008

Motorcyclist in fatal accident identified

Dale Caskey was identified as the motorcyclist who died when he collided with a pickup last week on Crows Landing Road just outside of Crows Landing, Stanislaus County coroner officials said Tuesday. The California Highway Patrol said Caskey, 56, of Modesto was wearing a helmet and driving a 2007 BMW motorcycle when he hit the pickup shortly before 6 p.m. on Nov. 25.

Caskey was pronounced dead at the scene, CHP officer Marcos Rivera said. Benito Gomez Castillejo, 39, of Ceres was driving the 2004 Chevrolet pickup, Rivera said. The crash occurred at Crows Landing and River roads, just southwest of the San Joaquin River.

The pickup was heading north on River Road and approaching Crows Landing Road, and the motorcycle was heading east on Crows Landing Road and approaching River Road. The CHP said Castillejo drove into the intersection without stopping for a stop sign.

Crows Landing Road does not have a stop sign at the intersection, and Castillejo drove into the path of the motorcycle, which struck the pickup's left side. Castillejo suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Castillejo was not wearing a seat belt, Rivera said. As of Tuesday afternoon, no arrests had been made pending completion of the crash investigation, said officer Tom Killian, a CHP spokesman. Rivera said there were no indications at the crash that alcohol or drugs were a factor.