Motorcyclist killed trying to pass vehicle on Hwy. 41

A Paso Robles man was killed Monday afternoon when he tried to pass a slow-moving vehicle on Highway 41 and his motorcycle collided head-on with an oncoming car, the California Highway Patrol confirmed Tuesday.

At about 3:35 p.m., Paul Joseph Nelson, 20, was driving a 2002 Suzuki RS 650 motorcycle south on Highway 41 south of Bear Ridge Road with a group of three other motorcyclists. The CHP said in a news release that Nelson attempted to catch up to his companions by passing a slow-moving vehicle in front of him.

For reasons unknown, he failed to see an oncoming 2014 Toyota Prius and veered into the northbound lane. The CHP said there was no time for either driver to avoid crashing head-on.

Nelson was ejected from the bike and came to rest in the roadway. He was declared dead at the scene by emergency medical responders. The driver of the Prius, a 53-year-old Morro Bay woman, suffered a minor injury to her lip, and her passenger, a 13-year-old boy, was not hurt.

The CHP said the investigation into the crash is ongoing but that no alcohol or drug use is suspected by either party.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Motorcyclist killed trying to pass vehicle on Hwy. 41."