MENDOCINO COUNTY — A 52-year-old Covelo man on a 21-speed mountain bicycle weaved in front of a car about 9:10 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 162 and was hit, causing his death.
William Michael Garica was pronounced dead at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol.
Garica was riding east in the westbound lane of Highway 162 west of Charlie Hurt Highway without lights on his bicycle, CHP reported. He was weaving left and right using the entire westbound lane.
Joann Hiilei, 41, of Covelo was driving west on Highway 162 in a Mitsubishi Galant approaching Garica, CHP reported. Hiilei slowed down and drove into the eastbound lane to pass Garica, but he made a sudden turn into her path. Garica struck the right front corner of the Galant, hit the windshield, flew over the roof and landed in a drainage ditch on the west side of the highway.
Preliminary investigation indicated Garica had consumed alcohol, which may have contributed to the cause of the collision, CHP said.
The Covelo Volunteer Fire Department and Round Valley Tribal Police assisted CHP at the scene. The Mendocino County Sheriff”s Department is conducting the coroner”s investigation.
