MARIPOSA – An accident involving a motorcycle and a drilling truck on Highway 49 has claimed the life of a North Fork resident, and sent another to the hospital with major injuries.
On Monday, May 13, at 1:20 p.m., Mark Harris of Yosemite Falls Well Drilling was southbound on Highway 49 in a drilling vehicle, approaching Chowchilla Mountain Road at 45 mph.There were two other vehicles directly behind his truck, according to the CHP, and a motorcycle came up behind all three at about 55 mph.
As Harris approached Chowchilla Mountain Road, he turned on his left turn signal and slowed in preparation for a left turn. The two vehicles behind him also slowed.
Roy Williams III, 51, of North Fork, and Shaylene Wilson, 48, also of North Fork, were riding a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle also southbound, and as the vehicles slowed behind the drilling truck, the motorcycle attempted to pass them, crossing over the solid yellow line and into the northbound lane.
The driver of the Harley was apparently unaware that the truck was about to turn left ahead of him, and as Harris began his turn, the motorcycle struck the left front of the truck, ejecting both Williams and Wilson into the roadway.
Williams sustained fatal injuries, and Wilson was transported to Community Regional Medical Center with major injuries.
