MOTORCYCLIST DIES AFTER BEING PINNED UNDER VAN

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

February 3, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A 35-year-old Vacaville man died this morning after he lost control of his motorcycle and was pinned under a minivan while riding across the Bay Bridge toward San Francisco, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP Officer Shawn Chase said witnesses described the victim starting to swerve as he was riding in the fast lane at a speed of about 70 mph.

The man was run over after the blue 2003 Honda CBR hit the "catwalk,'' a curb on the bridge, and he fell off his motorcycle into the path of a light blue Toyota Sienna minivan, Chase said.

The driver of the minivan, 36-year-old Marie Delavega of San Pablo, was traveling with her husband and three children when she ran over the motorcyclist, Chase said.

Westbound traffic on the bridge and back into the East Bay on Interstate Highways 80, 580 and 880 remained severely backed up two hours after the crash, according to the CHP.

All westbound lanes were opened shortly after 7:45 a.m.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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