ANTIOCH (BCN) — Poor wind and water conditions are preventing a search for a
motorcyclist who fell off the Antioch Bridge in a traffic collision Sunday
afternoon, a Sacramento County sheriff’s spokeswoman said Tuesday.
Crews have been searching since the motorcyclist flew over the
west side of the bridge after colliding with a Honda at about 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle was found on the bridge but there was no sign of
the rider. The driver of the Honda stayed at the scene and was not injured,
CHP officials said.
U.S. Coast Guard and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
crews searched throughout Sunday evening, halting the rescue operation at
about 6:30 p.m. as the sun set. They found some gear presumed to be the
rider’s but could find no sign of him, alive or dead.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s marine unit searched
the area on Monday but called off the search in the afternoon because of high
winds and rough waters, sheriff’s Sgt. Lisa Bowman said today.
The search remains suspended today as the poor marine conditions
have continued, Bowman said. An undertide may have dragged the man underwater
and he could be wedged somewhere.
“At this point we’re just waiting for better conditions so we can
get our boats in,” Bowman said.