Saturday Orcutt Motorcycle Crash at Local Intersection
ORCUTT, CA, (August 16, 2025) - On the morning of Aug. 16, a tragic motorcycle collision in Orcutt claimed the life of a Santa Maria man.
Raymond Abernathy III, 39, of Santa Maria, was killed Saturday morning in Orcutt when his motorcycle collided with two other vehicles at an intersection, authorities said.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau identified the victim as Raymond Abernathy III, 39. Preliminary reports indicate that Abernathy was riding a black Suzuki motorcycle northbound on Orcutt Road when a white Chevrolet truck traveling southbound slowed to turn left at the intersection with Siler Lane and pulled into the motorcycle’s path around 10:15 a.m.
The motorcycle struck the right rear of the truck, throwing Abernathy onto the hood of a Mercedes-Benz, which then stopped, causing him to fall into the roadway. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the fatal crash.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
One of the primary causes of deadly motorcycle crashes, according to experts, is when a vehicle turns left into the path of an oncoming motorcycle—often due to drivers being distracted by their phones. A total of 6,335 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2023. Motorcycle deaths accounted for 15% of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
“Motorcycle riders are arguably the most vulnerable motorists on the roadways, given the fact that there are no airbags or sturdy windows to protect them from an impact,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond, an experienced accident attorney.
Bond stressed that in cases such as this, it is imperative to have an independent investigation into the crash conducted by a seasoned lawyer to protect the rights of the victim’s family.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Raymond Abernathy III may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Such a claim could allow family members to seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Candice Bond, Of Counsel with Bond Legal.
“A wrongful death lawyer will stay informed of the official investigation and help ensure that the victim’s legal rights and best interests are protected.”
Have you experienced a similar accident and need guidance? Contact national legal analyst Candice Bond at Newsline for a free, no-obligation consultation today.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).