Police are unsure why a 56-year-old Modesto man lost control of his motorcycle early Sunday and crashed with fatal injuries, but are hoping the public can provide some clues.

Richard Velasquez, 56, of Modesto, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 12:52 a.m. crash, which occurred in the 2900 block of Service Road just east of El Camino Avenue. Paramedics from American Medical Response were first on scene and called police when they found the rider was unresponsive.

The presence of a locked wheel skid leads police to believe that Velasquez may have had to brake for another vehicle or possibly an animal in the road. There is no evidence that the crashed motorcycle hit anything other than the asphalt.
The motorcycle and rider slid off to the side of the road.

"We just need witnesses," said Lt. Brent Smith of the Ceres Police Department. "We don't know why there are skids there, what exactly he was trying to stop for."

The cause of the collision is being investigated by Officer Jason Coley who may be reached at 538-5678.