A 21-year-old Ceres man riding his motorcycle was killed Thursday morning in a Highway 99 crash in Salida.

The victim was identified as Christopher Lopez.

The crash occurred at approximately 5:38 a.m. as Lopez was riding a 2007 Triumph motorcycle northbound on the freeway just south of Hammett Road. Traffic was stopped and backed up in the fast lane when the Ceres man collided with the back of 2010 Mercedes sedan driven by Jonathan Mendes, 26, of Los Banos. Lopez was ejected from the Triumph onto the pavement where he was tended to by paramedics and rushed to Doctors Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

California Highway Patrol investigators do not suspect drugs or alcohol to have played a part in the crash. The Modesto CHP office would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed events leading up to the crash. Those with information are encouraged to contact Officer Jose Gonzalez at (209) 545-7440.