CHP: Chatting with Girlfriend Distracted Driver in Fatal Motorcycle Accident

The death of a Carlsbad motorcyclist in Ramona on Sunday may have been caused by a distracted driver, according to the Highway Patrol.

Dennis Wayne Williams, 57, died in the collision on Highland Valley Road, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

"The driver was inattentive," CHP spokesman Brian Pennings told Patch. "He said he was distracted by talking to his girlfriend, who was a passenger in his car."

Pennings said there was no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved.

The Highway Patrol investigation could take three or four weeks, he said. The Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the incident an accident. It will be up to the investigation and the District Attorney's Office whether any charges will be filed and whether a prosecution will proceed, Pennings said.

Williams had been traveling south on Highland Valley Road on Sunday afternoon. A Toyota Prius, travelling northbound, made a complete stop as the driver waited for Williams to pass before making a left turn. A driver of a northbound Honda Civic apparently did not see the stopped Prius and attempted to avoid a collision by swerving hard to the left.

The Civic struck the left rear bumper of the Prius causing the Civic to enter the southbound lane of travel, according to the Medical Examiner's report. The Civic and the motorcycle collided, ejecting Williams onto the road. Williams was transported to a local fire department in anticipation of air transport to a hospital. However, despite resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead prior to air transport.

No other major injuries were observed in anyone else involved in the accident, Pennings reported.