Modesto police identify motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run

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Police this morning identified a 51-year-old Modesto man as the motorcyclist killed in a hit-and-run accident on Tuesday night.

Sgt. Brian Findlen, police spokesman, identified Irvin Dee Tefertiller as the deceased.

Jennifer Cowgill, 23, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI causing injury/death, felony hit and run, and vehicular manslaughter.

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Findlen said Cowgill ran from the scene before a witness tracked her down and stopped her. Police gave this account:

Cowgill was driving a 1990s model Ford Explorer south on El Vista Avenue about 8:20 p.m. when she made a left turn onto Haddon Avenue and into the path of the motorcycle ridden by Tefertiller that was northbound on El Vista. The two vehicles collided.

"It appears as if the Ford Explorer failed to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist," Findlen said.

Cowgill drove about 100 feet before stopping on Haddon, with the motorcycle still underneath the Explorer.

Cowgill got out of the sport utility vehicle and ran. A man who lives near the intersection and saw the accident told police he followed her on foot down Haddon and then south on Cloverdale Avenue, where he jumped in front of her and persuaded her to stop.

Tefertiller was pronounced dead at Doctors Medical Center at 8:56 p.m.

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