Motorcyclist killed in 2nd of 2 fatal San Pablo crashes

SAN PABLO, Calif. (KGO) -- A motorcyclist who died in a hit-and-run collision with a big-rig on westbound Interstate Highway 80 in San Pablo Monday morning, the second fatal crash on the same stretch of the highway today, has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office.

Nicholas Brown, 35, of Fairfield, died in a crash reported at 6:22 a.m. on westbound Highway 80 in the area of El Portal Drive.

The big-rig, described as a a yellow truck with a white trailer, made an unsafe lane change and hit Brown, who then hit another car and was ejected from his motorcycle and onto the roadway, CHP Officer Matthew Hamer said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses said the big-rig driver pulled over and stopped for four or five minutes, then drove away, Hamer said.

Officers later pulled over a big-rig matching the description provided by witnesses, but do not think that vehicle was the one involved in the collision and they are still searching for the suspect vehicle, according to Hamer.

All lanes reopened again by 7:55 a.m., according to the CHP.

A separate earlier crash on the same part of Highway 80 claimed the life of Lindche Tran, 25, of Richmond.

At about 4:05 a.m., Tran was driving a Honda Accord that for some reason spun out and hit the center median. The car came to rest facing the wrong way and with its lights out, Hamer said.

As she was exiting the car, a Dodge Charger approached and the driver was unable to avoid hitting the car and Tran, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Hamer said.

The two occupants of the Dodge were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, he said.

The crash shut down the highway until around 6:10 a.m., less than 15 minutes before the collision that killed Brown.

Anyone with information about either case is encouraged to call the CHP's Oakland office at (510) 450-3821.