Harley rider killed in collision near Castroville

A San Jose man driving a motorcycle died in a collision with an SUV on Sunday afternoon near Castroville, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The motorcyclist was driving a 2005 Harley-Davidson west on Molera Road near state Highway 1 behind a 1999 GMC Suburban at about 1:30 p.m., according to the CHP.

The GMC slowed down to turn left and the motorcycle attempted to pass the SUV on the left, CHP officials said.

The driver of the GMC started making the left turn and the motorcyclist moved to the right to avoid the GMC, but instead hit the right rear of it. The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries.

The six occupants of the GMC were not injured, including the woman driving the vehicle, a male passenger and four children from three months old to seven years old, CHP officials said.

The Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office will release the motorcyclist’s name after notifying next of kin.

CHP officials said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be involved in the collision, which is still under investigation.