DUI Driver Michael Confer, 30, Kills Motorcyclist in Willits Head-On Crash
WILLITS, CA (May 13, 2021) – Authorities detained Michael Confer after a fatal DUI crash on Highway 101 on the elevated Willits Bypass.
Officers determined that the 30-year-old Crescent City man was under the influence of a controlled substance when he killed a motorcyclist.
The incident began when Michael Lee Confer was driving a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix north on Highway 101 in Willits. At the same time, Wayne A. Berry was riding a 2007 BMW motorcycle south.
Michael Confer then drifted over the double yellow lines as he traveled on the elevated Willits Bypass. He went directly into the path of the motorcyclist and struck him head-on.
Wayne Berry, 68, Hit by Car on Highway 101
The impact sent Wayne Berry and his bike over the side of the elevated highway, south of Main Street. The 68-year-old rider, from Arroyo Grande, died at the scene.
The Press Democrat and Ukiah Daily Journal wrote that the accident took place on Thursday shortly before 3 a.m. Meanwhile, the Pontiac became engulfed in flames as a result of the collision.
The California Highway Patrol said Confer sustained minor wounds following the wreck. Medical personnel took him to the Howard Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Authorities soon arrested Confer on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. They ultimately booked him into the Mendocino County Jail. The Willits DUI crash is still under investigation.
“Johnson Attorneys Group does not represent any of the parties mentioned above; nor is it our intent to represent any of the parties. If you would like to contribute to this story, please contact us.”
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