CHP Releases Details on This Morning’s Fatal Crash on the Willits Bypass; DUI Suspected
Press release from the California Highway Patrol:
On May 13, 2021, at approximately 0255 hours, Michael Lee Confer, was driving a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix, northbound on US-101, south of Main Street, on the elevated Willits Bypass, at an unknown rate of speed. A male, was riding a 2007 BMW motorcycle, southbound on US-101, approaching the Pontiac, at approximately 55 mph. For reasons still under investigation, Confer allowed his Pontiac to travel over the double yellow painted lines, which separated the northbound and southbound lanes, directly into the path of the motorcycle. A head on collision occurred subsequently ejecting the male rider and his motorcycle over the side of the elevated bypass, where they came to rest below. The force of impact caused Confer’s Pontaic to ignite and catch fire. US-101 was closed for approximately 2 hours for emergency services and scene investigation.
The rider of the BMW motorcycle succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification to next of kin by the Mendocino County Coroner’s Office.
Michael Confer was evaluated and placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while under the influence of a controlled substance. Confer was booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter.
This incident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, Garberville Area.
Earlier: 101 Closed at the Willits Bypass After Fatal Head On Collision
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
How terrible and sad. Sympathy to the family & loved ones of the MC rider…ride on in heaven
Piece of shit drunk. Loathesome.
Terrible story and so preventable. It’s bad enough so many people still drive intoxicated and have to fightDUIcharges in court, but the injuries and deaths they cause from DUI is inexcusable.
Please note, the manslaughter charges could be a result of using marijuana. Whether it’s weed or pills, please don’t drive. Could result in a situation like this. Peace to the rider’s family.
Don’t drink and drive. And if you’re totally twacked out…don’t drive! And hide the keys from anyone who’s clearly impaired! Who cares if they get angry! Make them think they did it. Save an innocent life! Pull a spark plug, anything! Distract them. I did it just recently. And the person wasn’t exactly happy about it but I stood my ground and didn’t back down so they went to sleep. Love doesn’t let people drive impaired. When you lose a family member you’ll care. But why wait…care now!
“Kill a biker go to jail” hope this happens in this case!
U don’t know who crossed the yellow line and I know it was not done in purpose. Until u know the facts u shouldn’t say anything.
Soooo fucked up! RIP ?? my Condolences family and friends ??
So tragic. Does anyone know why there’s a posted 65mph speed limit sign going southbound on the bypass just before it becomes two-way traffic (should be 55mph speed limit by law)? This has always puzzled me.
Many two-lane undivided highways in california have 65 speed limits. 299 on the other side of redding comes to mind, unless they’ve changed it since last time I was out there. The 55 default is one of those “unless otherwise posted” things.
EDIT: I googled to check the exact wording. “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may drive a vehicle upon a two-lane, undivided highway at a speed greater than 55 miles per hour unless that highway, or portion thereof, has been posted for a higher speed by the Department of Transportation or appropriate local agency upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey.”
EDIT2: To actually answer “why”, it’s because the speed limit is 65. 🙂
Thanks! I know our political views are different, but I appreciate your taking the time with a thoughtful response.
Check my posts in the report from earlier this morning before this update for the data on the eight collisions in just the last year at the Willits Bypass-north end.
It clearly needs to be restudied and reconsidered, and probably reconfigured.
Check the facts and then decide.
Thanks.
This guy 6’5″ 300+ pounds stuffed in a 97 grand prix at 6am drunk as a mofo. Must been a hell of a party. RIP motorcyle man. Damn.
He was not drinking or on drugs he was traveling too far too long with no sleep and he fell asleep so maybe you guys should know what you’re talking about before you go running your f****** mouth
I know the CHP says DUI is suspected. The driver was arrested, taken to jail, and charged with multiple felonies. They don’t usually do this unless the person blatantly failed a breathalyzer or blood test, or at least a field sobriety check. If there’s any question in their minds, the press releases read “DUI is being investigated as a possible factor,” not “suspected”. Do you have evidence to the contrary? It is certainly possible the driver is innocent, but you can’t fault people for going with the most likely scenario here.
How is it that chp knows how fast the bmw bike was going but not the car????????? It seemes to me that they need to have a full on out of town investigation maybe thery are not at all under the influence as i drive a semi and i know just where it happend i have hade lots of close calles in the day and at night. And i am so so sorry dor the man that lost his life and every one in evolved.
So it’s cool he was driving the wrong way on a major highway because he was sleepy? Oh, he was just trying to soberly get his kids to school? Lies. It’s definitely possible he was intoxicated and going to drive his kids to school. It is Mendo/ Del Norte, after all. But, even if you aren’t lying about sobriety (lol), your defensive statements just make the driver more of a dangerous criminal. In your world, your relative can just randomly slaughter people on the highway while sober? Lock him up and throw away the key, whatever the facts are about intoxication.
It’s my niece’s dad I know I know he was not drunk or on drugs I know he was driving to far with no sleep to try and get his kid on the bus so his wife could be at work so yes I do know him there has been several recks there in the last 6 months it could of been anyone and because he past history they automatically say it was a dui
This an absolutely worthless and hurtful comment. “Could have been anyone (!?)” who crossed DOUBLE lines and traveled into oncoming traffic on the highway? No, only a tremendous POS could pull off such a stunt. It may even be worse if he was sober somehow (spoiler alert: no). We can only hope the court system treats him as the “human” garbage he is.
Your “past history” comment just lets us know what we already know intuitively. This was undoubtedly a guy with a long checkered past of dangerous behavior. Just finally caught up to him and now my friend is dead.
Guess what he is home because guess what the test came back he was not on drugs so keep your rude ass comments to your mother fucking self
Desirae,
Please be aware that there are more than one “guest”.
I hope you do not confuse us all as being one.
I am aware of how dangerous that area is, an accident every 46 days,on average, for the last year.
Maybe better to still go through Willits.
I knew the deceased very well. I’m sure the Pontiac driver was under the influence but doesn’t matter if he wasn’t. No excuse for crossing the center lines like that. Let’s hope he rots in jail especially given the likely DUI aspect.
Desiree: that was absolutely irresponsible and hurtful speculation. The idea that “it could have been anyone” is absurd. No, he took a car, crossed DOUBLE yellow lines and killed someone with a life and a family. This was not a tragic accident that just randomly happens. If you really think that, then you need to stay off the road as well. Since it “just happens” according to you, who knows when you’ll be the one to kill. No, this is a colossal, inexcusable screw up. It’s not tough to avoid barreling through a motorcycle traveling lawfully in his own lane. Let’s hope the punishment is swift and severe. May he never get out.
He was not on drugs he is home if the test was to have came back he was on drugs he would still be sitting there im very sorry for the lose of the the man that passed it could of been any one there has been 8 car wrecks there in the last year with north bound being at fault they need to look end to that bridge i know he has to live with what happened for the rest of his life
Yep, bridge’s fault got it. So just a sober responsible upstanding individual plowing into a motorcycle the wrong way on 101? I feel so much better. Could “of” as you say happened to anyone. Poor driver: home safe and has to live with this. I can think of one person who doesn’t have that option. Hint: it’s the same guy Michael crushed and flung over a bridge to his death.
Imagine how dangerous this person was when actually on drugs if he’s causing this kind of bloodshed supposedly sober.
Another terrible DUI accident that should have never happened. Even a first DUI in California is serious with penalties under new state laws, and obviously even worse punishment when someone is injured or killed. It’s amazing how many people still choose to risk driving drunk in California anyways.