Motorcycle Accident Witnesses Sought

A Fullerton couple who were thrown from a motorcycle and perhaps run over by passing cars on the Riverside Freeway were identified Friday, and a search continued for any witnesses to the accident, which occurred in slow, heavy traffic.

Cindy Ann Carter, 39, was killed and her husband, Timothy A. Carter, also 39, was critically injured Thursday when they were thrown to the roadway near the westbound Gilbert Street exit, authorities said.

Although the freeway was crowded at 5:40 p.m., no one who saw the accident stopped, and none have come forward. Several people who came upon the bodies in the road shortly after the crash did stop to offer medical aid and call 911.

“It’s frustrating that we have no direct witnesses, because people who see something like this do usually stop,” said Officer Amador Portillo of the California Highway Patrol. “Someone had to see this, and we need to speak with them.”

The severity of the victims’ injuries, along with tire tread marks on the woman’s body, suggests that one or both of them were run over, Portillo said.

The two landed in the center lane after Timothy Carter, the driver, apparently lost control of his 1986 Harley Davidson Heritage Classic, Portillo said.

Traffic was moving at 10 to 15 mph, and the motorcycle was apparently going 20 to 30 mph, straddling the line between two lanes, when the incident occurred, Portillo said.

The motorcycle was relatively undamaged and had no paint marks from other vehicles, suggesting the crash was not preceded by a collision, Portillo said. There were no skid marks near the motorcycles or the bodies.

Carter regained consciousness Friday but was not yet able to help investigators. He suffered a broken pelvic bone, along with neck and collarbone fractures, and remained in guarded condition, Portillo said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Portillo at (714) 892-4426 during weekdays and at (714) 223-5454 after hours and on weekends.