Melo Toste Correia Seriously Injured in Highway 165 Crash near Fowler Road in Merced County
Merced County, California (January 15, 2022) – A Hilmar motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle Saturday afternoon in Merced County, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The major injury crash happened at about 2:37 p.m. on Highway 165, just south of Fowler Road.
According to the CHP, a 1999 Honda Accord, driven by a 76-year old Hilmar woman, was heading northbound on Highway 165 and was slowing to turn left when she collided with a 2002 Kawasaki ZX600 driven by Melo Toste Correia, 30, of Hilmar.
According to Witnesses, Toste Correia was driving at approximately 80 miles per hour and passing vehicles before the collision.
After the collision, Toste Correia continued about 80 feet on the bike and slammed into a cable box. Due to the impact, Toste Correia was ejected from the motorcycle and tumbled another 200 feet.
Major Injury Motorcycle Accident on Highway 165 in Merced County
Toste Correia was transported to a Modesto-area hospital with major injuries. His current condition was not immediately available.
The Hilmar woman was also hospitalized for precautionary reasons.
Intoxication was not considered a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.