Sonora Motorcyclist Killed In Saturday Accident

Sonora, CA — 68 year old Donald A. Winkler of Sonora was killed in a motorcycle accident early Saturday afternoon on Forestry Rd. 4N01 near the Crandal OHV parking area in an extremely remote area of eastern Tuolumne County.

CHP Officer Tom Wills says Winkler apparently lost control of his 1997 Suzuki DR-Z 400 on an unpaved dirt and gravel roadway maintained by the U.S. Department of Forestry.

Wills adds that Winkler was attempting to traverse a curve to the left. He ran off the north edge of the roadway striking a tree. Wills says excessive speed may have been the cause of the accident. At this time alcohol is not considered a contributing factor.

Winkler was transported to a helicopter by Tuolumne County Ambulance and was pronounced dead by attending physicians upon his arrival at Sutter Amador Hospital.

Written by Bill Johnson