A 38-year-old Fresno man was killed in an off-road vehicle crash Friday in eastern San Luis Obispo County, the California Highway Patrol reported. The accident occurred about 4:50 p.m. Friday on a dirt service road about 1.6 miles west of Soda Lake Road, and 6.9 miles north of Highway 166, in the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
On Tuesday authorities identified the victim as Matthew Drake, 38, of Fresno. Drake had been riding a 1996 dual sport motorcycle with three other people when for unknown reasons, he did not stop the motorcycle before hitting the edge of the ravine. Drake was wearing a helmet but still sustained fatal injuries when he was thrown from his bike. The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash.
Please keep Matthew Drake's family in your prayers. Our sympathy goes out to everyone who knew and loved him.
Based upon the reports of the accident in the Fresno Bee and the Taft Midway Driller, the cause of the accident is not clear. Why was Drake not able to stop his motorcycle? While this off-road motorcycle accident remains under investigation, the family of Matthew Drake may benefit from a consultation with a Fresno wrongful death attorney. An attorney can determine if the motorcycle was possibly defective and contributed to the accident. Honda has issued dozens of recalls over the years for problems and safety issues in their motorcycles. If a malfunction of the motorcycle caused or contributed to the fatal accident, the family may consider filing a wrongful death claim against Honda for their loss.
Sources: Fresno Bee, Taft Midway Driller
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