California Highway Patrol officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding a rural Yolo County crash that left a motorcyclist dead Wednesday morning.
Denis Fred Bartz Sr., 61, of Knights Landing, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 6 a.m. collision, which occurred on County Road 85 near Road 15B north of Capay, CHP Officer Bryan Konvalin said.
According to the CHP, the crash occurred when 60-year-old Manuel Perez of Woodland turned left from a gravel road onto northbound Road 85, failing to notice the Harley Davidson approaching southbound. Bartz struck the left front of Perez’s Ford Ranger and was thrown from his motorcycle, suffering fatal injuries when he struck the roadway.
Bartz was pronounced dead at the scene
The CHP reported that Perez initially was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, but was later released from custody due to insufficient evidence, Konvalin said. The case will be submitted to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office for review once the investigation is complete.