CLEARLAKE OAKS — Authorities Wednesday released the names of a Rio Linda couple killed over the weekend in a motorcycle crash on Highway 20 in eastern Lake County.
The victims were identified as Kenneth Norman Kempton, 62, and his wife Joanne Kempton, 60, according to Lake County Sheriff”s Lt. Steve Brooks.
The Kemptons were killed after their 1998 Harley-Davidson bike went across the highway and struck a guardrail Saturday evening near New Long Valley Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities say the westbound motorcycle was traveling too fast for conditions when the crash occurred.
The couple”s deaths marked the end of a bloody six-day span on Lake County highways.
Clearlake resident Johnny McCuan, 55, died the night of May 22 after his motorcycle drifted into oncoming traffic and hit two vehicles on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks. Dinoti Mosley, 20, of Middletown was killed May 20 after crashing his car into a tree on Highway 175 near Anderson Springs.
The Kemptons were the county”s 10th and 11th traffic fatalities of the year. Two of the other fatal crashes claimed the lives of motorcyclists.
In addition to McCuan”s death, Cobb resident Nathan Fletcher, 28, was killed after crashing his motorcycle on Bottle Rock Road the night of March 16.
Note: A previous version of this story listed an incorrect date for the crash that killed McCuan. Lake County Publishing regrets the error.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow his court coverage on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh.
