Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner has released the name of the motorcyclist who died in a collision with a U.S. Postal Service vehicle.
The motorcyclist has been identified as 45-year-old Michael Joseph Figone of Santa Barbara.
The fatal collision took place around 4:51 p.m. on May 2 in the 4200 block of Marina Drive near Alisa Lane, Santa Barbara’s Hope Ranch neighborhood.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Figone was riding a black Yamaha sport bike eastbound on Marina Drive. At the same time, the 33-year-old postal worker was driving a mail truck westbound.
The postal truck made a left turn onto Alisa Lane, when the motorcycle crashed into the mail truck’s right side.
Figone was ejected from his bike and landed onto the roadway.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department crews responded and attempted saving Figone, but he died at the scene.
The driver of the postal truck was unharmed.
Drugs or alcohol did not play a role in the crash. Further investigation is underway.
The full CHP report can be read here.
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May 2, 2023: Motorcyclist Dies in Collision with Mail Truck
I would look at the setting sun at that time of day at that location. I have been in the area before when the road ran directly into the bright light and oncoming traffic was unknowable. So sad.
there is no “setting sun” @ 4:45.
to add. The blindspot for a mail driver turning left is entirely different mid-turn than regular vehicles because the driver is on the right side.
You may be on to something. By doing the sun cal and reviewing the position of a left-turning vehicle, the sun would be shining straight thru the palm trees.
https://www.suncalc.org/#/34.4121,-119.7655,18/2023.05.02/16:51/1/3
https://goo.gl/maps/kM5DDc3s3CewSiPY7
Sun glare is not an issue three full hours before sunset.