Authorities have identified 31-year-old Trevon Hayes as the motorcyclist who died following a collision with a car in Sacramento. The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. on May 11 at the intersection of Northgate Boulevard and Bridgeford Drive. Hayes was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries that night. Police said the car’s driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Officials added that DUI does not appear to have played a role in the crash. The intersection was temporarily closed while officers investigated.
Accident News Report
The motorcyclist killed in a collision with a car at a Sacramento intersection on May 11 has been identified as 31-year-old Trevon Hayes, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. in the area of Northgate Boulevard and Bridgeford Drive. Sacramento Police Department officials said a motorcycle and a car were involved in the collision.
Responding officers found both vehicles at the scene, and the motorcyclist was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Authorities said Hayes later died from his injuries Monday night.
Police said the driver of the car remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. DUI does not appear to have been a contributing factor, according to officials.
The intersection was closed for an unspecified period while officers conducted their investigation.
Important Details
May 11, around 10:30 a.m.
Intersection of Northgate Boulevard and Bridgeford Drive, Sacramento, California
Collision between a motorcycle and a car at an intersection
31-year-old motorcyclist Trevon Hayes, later died at the hospital
Hayes initially in critical, life-threatening condition before succumbing to injuries
Remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators
DUI and other drug or alcohol use not believed to be contributing factors, according to police
Intersection closed for an unknown period during the investigation
Sacramento Police Department, with identification by Sacramento County Coroner’s Office
What California law says after a motorcycle accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Motorcycle collisions and California law
California expressly recognizes lane splitting, the practice of a motorcycle riding between rows of stopped or slow moving vehicles travelling in the same direction, in Vehicle Code section 21658.1. A rider who was lane splitting is not automatically at fault for a resulting collision. As in any collision, the question is what each party actually did and whether it was reasonable under the conditions.
California sets no legal speed limit and no speed differential for lane splitting. Figures that circulate widely, such as riding no more than ten miles per hour faster than surrounding traffic, come from a safety guidance document that was withdrawn more than a decade ago and were never part of the law. The California Highway Patrol publishes safety tips rather than numeric rules, and riding on the shoulder is not lane splitting and is not lawful.
California also requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a helmet meeting federal safety standards, and the helmet must be properly fastened and correctly sized.
Motorcycle cases carry a practical difficulty that does not appear in other collisions. Riders frequently face an assumption that they were speeding, weaving, or riding recklessly, regardless of what the evidence shows. That assumption can appear in early reporting, in an insurer’s evaluation, and later in a jury’s thinking. Physical evidence, scene measurements, and independent witnesses often matter more in these cases than in a routine collision.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- California motorcycle accident lawyer: lane splitting, fault, and what a claim is worth
- All practice areas
Injured in This Accident? Get Trusted Legal Guidance
After an accident, the right information can make a meaningful difference. If you or a loved one was hurt, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and determine whether legal action may be available.
Speak with our legal team today and get clear guidance before making important decisions.