The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau identified a Santa Maria man as the motorcyclist killed in a Friday afternoon vehicle crash.
William Batiste Jr., 55, was fatally injured in a suspected DUI collision with a vehicle on South College Drive.
Batiste’s motorcycle was traveling north on the 1900 block of South College Drive at about 5 p.m. Friday when a vehicle exited from a parking lot into the roadway, Santa Maria Police Sgt. Todd Logan said.
The motorcyclist collided with the vehicle and had major injuries at the scene.
He was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center, where he died of his injuries, police said.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Ashley Elise Wallace, 35, of Santa Maria.
She had non-life-threatening injuries in the crash, Logan said.
“Following a preliminary investigation by the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Unit, officers determined that Wallace was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash,” Lt. Daniel Rios said.
Wallace was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, and subsequently was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail.
Police continue investigating the collision, and anyone with information can contact the Traffic Unit at 805.928.3781, extension 1139.