5 Die In Traffic Accident

Ocotillo, California - A car plowed into a group of motorcyclists Saturday afternoon and five people died. According to Officer DeeAnn Goudie of the El Centro California Highway Patrol office,

A group of 12 motorcyclists was eastbound on State Route 98 about 5 miles east of Ocotillo in Imperial County when a car attempted to pass the group. The car, a gold colored Honda Civic, pulled into the westbound lane and accelerated to pass, failing to see another car heading westbound in that lane. The westbound car drove onto the paved shoulder to avoid the head-on collision but went out of control and slid into the group of motorcycles. Six of the motorcyclists were struck head-on resulting in four fatalities. A passenger in the car also received fatal injuries. Six other victims were taken to hospitals in Brawley, El Centro and San Diego. The car that caused the accident fled the scene and authorities are looking for the driver. Identities of the five fatally injured in the accident have not been released yet. The injured were; 36-year old Carlos Ramirez Bobadilla of Mexicali who was the driver of the westbound car, 39-year old Wilson Trayor of Lakeside, 42-year old Kelly Halley of Santee, 57-year old William Barnes of San Diego, 46-year old Melanie Barnes of San Diego and 55-year old John Lombardo of Lakeside. The motorcyclists who died in the accident were from Alpine, Ramona and Lakeside, all in San Diego County.

The accident occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m. Saturday and Highway 98 remained closed until 6:00 a.m. Sunday to allow officers to investigate the crash. The California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is investigating the accident as is the Imperial County Coroner’s Office.