Motorcyclist in critical condition after Modesto crash

A Modesto man was in critical but stable condition in a local hospital on Thursday after being in a crash while riding a motorcycle Wednesday.

The crash occurred about 4 p.m. on Yosemite Boulevard near Creekwood Drive. Witnesses told police that the cyclist, 53-year-old Russell Bartholomew, sped out of a parking lot into the path of an oncoming driver, who was unable to avoid the collision.

Bartholomew was thrown from his motorcycle, and his head hit the ground. He was wearing a helmet, but not one approved by the Department of Transportation for motorcycle use, said Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Motorcyclist in critical condition after Modesto crash."