Motorcyclist seriously hurt in collision with big rig in Modesto

A 21-year-old man suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning while making an unsafe attempt to pass it on the right, the California Highway Patrol said.

The collision occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Finch Road just west of Garner Road near Modesto Airport. Jordan Ribeira of Modesto was taken to Memorial Medical Center with an apparently broken right femur and left wrist, CHP Officer Richard Kennell said.

Fernando Buenrostro said Ribeira, a co-worker at Pacific Southwest Container on Leckron Road, east of the accident site, had just gotten off work. Ribeira was riding in front of Buenrostro’s vehicle and apparently didn’t see that the big rig’s turn signal was on as the driver prepared to pull into Sierra Pacific Distribution at 3731 Finch Road, he said.

The vehicles collided and Ribeira “rolled off” his motorcycle, Buenrostro said. Buenrostro got out of his vehicle and ran to check on Ribeira, who was conscious and able to talk with him. Ribeira was wearing his helmet and safety gear except for riding pants, Buenrostro said.

Kennell said when he spoke with Ribeira, the cyclist was “half in, half out” of consciousness and could not remember what happened.

The officer said the big-rig driver’s signal was turned on at Finch and Garner roads, well in advance of the turn.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Motorcyclist seriously hurt in collision with big rig in Modesto."