Penn Valley Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Highway 20 Crash

GRASS VALLEY — A 65-year-old Penn Valley man was thrown from his motorcycle on State Route 20 west of Grass Valley on Monday morning and was flown to a trauma center with major injuries, the California Highway Patrol said. The crash involved no other vehicles, and the cause remains under investigation.

The man was riding a black Harley-Davidson westbound just west of Brighton Street shortly after 11:20 AM when he braked hard and was ejected over the handlebars, according to Public Information Officer Sean Armacher. The rider had been traveling at normal highway speeds, Armacher said.

What prompted the braking is still unclear. Traffic was flowing smoothly at the time, Armacher said, and no witness has offered an explanation. “It could be anything from an animal to a medical condition,” he said.

Brighton Street crosses State Route 20 on an overpass at the western edge of Grass Valley. West of the crossing, the highway carries traffic toward Penn Valley, where the rider lives.

Emergency crews treated the rider at the scene and closed State Route 20 for roughly 30 minutes, Armacher said. A CALSTAR helicopter then flew him to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

CHP is withholding the rider’s name until his family is notified because of the severity of his injuries. Anyone with information about the crash can reach the office at (530) 477-4900.