Motorcyclist Dies on Stagecoach Road July 4

Jody Powell, a motorcyclist from Newbury Park, was killed in a collision with a car on Stagecoach Road in the early afternoon of July 4.

According to a report on the incident from the California Highway Patrol, Powell, 46, was following a fellow motorcyclist approximately 1.2 miles east of Paradise Road after having stopped at the Paradise Store where the two had allegedly consumed a couple of beers. Accelerating past his friend, who was traveling at 30-40 miles per hour eastbound, Powell reportedly drifted over the double yellow lines and into oncoming traffic. A 72-year-old Santa Barbara man was driving at 10-15 miles per hour westbound on Stagecoach Road and was unable to avoid Powell who struck the front left corner of his car at an undetermined speed and was thrown from his motorcycle.

Powell was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision, though life-saving attempts were made by emergency fire personnel. Two unopened beers were found in Powell’s backpack and investigations are being made into the motorcyclist’s sobriety at the time of the collision.