Retired CHP officer killed in Highway 41 accident
A retired California Highway Patrol officer died Saturday in a head-on collision while riding a motorcycle on Highway 41 north-west of Paso Robles, near the Kern County line, CHP reports.
George Lester, 63, of Paso Robles died when, for unknown reasons, a pickup truck swerved into his lane and struck his motorcycle head-on, the report says. CHP responded to the scene at about 9:50 a.m.
Lester was riding his 2014 Honda Gold Wing northbound on Highway 41. Fidencio Vidriales, 64, of Merced was driving a 2015 Toyota Tacoma southbound on the highway. Both were traveling at about 65 MPH prior to the crash, the report says.
Vidriales received minor injuries from the accident and was transported by CHP helicopter to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. Officers did not arrest Vidriales.
Lester had retired from the CHP Coastal Division 11 years ago. He was a commercial officer assigned to the San Luis Obispo office.
