Los Osos man killed in high-speed motorcycle crash

A 37-year-old Los Osos man was killed when his motorcycle crashed into a pickup Wednesday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred about 9 p.m. when a man riding a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle east on Los Osos Valley Road approached the Broderson Avenue intersection at “a high rate of speed,” the CHP said.

At the same time, Joseph Metzger, 30, of Los Osos, was driving a 2003 Ford Ranger and was making a left turn from westbound Los Osos Valley Road to southbound Broderson Avenue. The motorcycle struck the right side of the Ford, causing the truck to overturn onto its left side.

As a result of the impact, the motorcyclist, later identified as Joseph French, was ejected and killed.

The truck’s passenger, 28-year-old Rebecca Bailey of Arroyo Grande, suffered multiple fractures to her pelvis, the CHP said. The driver of the truck received lacerations to his left arm.

Both vehicles received major damage as a result of the crash.

Metzger was evaluated by officials, who determined he wasn’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Both occupants of the truck were wearing seatbelts, and the motorcyclist was wearing an open-face helmet, the CHP said.

The collision remains under investigation, and authorities ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the San Luis Obispo CHP office at 805-594-8700.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story had information from the CHP that inaccurately stated the directions of travel for the motorcycle and truck.

This story was originally published February 1, 2018 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Los Osos man killed in high-speed motorcycle crash."