Brad Horn/Nevada Appeal Friends comfort the girlfriend of a California man who died Friday evening after he lost control of his Harley Davidson motorcycle when it cartwheeled into the side of the mountain on Spooner Summit. The man was traveling with friends to Reno for the annual Street Vibrations motorcycle event.
A California man and woman, both motorcyclists, were killed in separate accidents Friday.
A 49-year-old Pasadena man died about 4 p.m. on Spooner Summit when he lost control on his way to Street Vibrations in Reno.
According to witness Tish Denehie, the man was eastbound on Highway 50 West some six miles from Highway 395, when he began to ride on the asphalt shoulder, slowing his speed to 35 or 40 mph prior to the wreck.
"Then he started to wobble and all of a sudden just began to cartwheel, end over end," said Denehie, who was riding in a following car.
She said the victim was part of her group, a caravan of cars and motorcycles, which left a few hours earlier from Cameron Park, Calif., near Placerville, to the area's biggest motorcycle rally. An estimated 40,000 motorcyclists and enthusiasts are expected to converge on Northern Nevada for the five-day event.
"I just met him this morning," Denehie said. "I'm in shock."
As witnesses filled out statements and the man's girlfriend, who was riding her own bike, was consoled by friends, dozen of motorcyclists descended the summit, presumably on their way to Street Vibrations.
Wind likely caused accident on Highway 88
About 5 p.m., according to the Nevada Highway Patrol, a truck pulling a trailer may have been pushed by the wind across lanes in front of an oncoming motorcycle on Highway 88 and Dressler Lane.
The female motorcyclists was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The highway patrol enlisted the help of the California Highway Patrol and Alpine County Sheriff's Department to control the traffic.
About 5:30 p.m. a motorcyclist was injured at the Mount Rose junction at highways 341 and 395.
The man was taken to Washoe Medical Center with unknown injuries.
n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
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