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Katherine Hawley, 39, was killed when a sedan driven by 37-year-old Humberto De La Torre of Watsonville collided with her motorcycle, according to Det. Randal Dyck, an investigator with the Monterey County Coroner's Office.
De La Torre also died as a result of the crash, Dyck said.
A report from Officer Sarah Jackson of the California Highway Patrol's Santa Cruz area office explained that a CHP officer observed De La Torre's green sedan traveling southbound at a high rate of speed along a stretch of Highway 1 at approximately 4:18 p.m. Sunday.
Jackson said that when the officer attempted to overtake the speeding vehicle, he observed the sedan make unsafe lane changes and drive erratically, eventually colliding head-on with the guard rail in the center divide near Buena Vista Road.
De La Torre allegedly fled the scene with the officer in pursuit. Jackson's report said that near Salinas Road, the sedan sideswiped a white SUV, which left the SUV's adult passenger with minor injuries.
Jackson said that seconds after that first collision De La Torre's sedan collided with Hawley, who was traveling northbound on Highway 1.
She said the pursuing officer did not observe the collision, as he had slowed his own speed due to the reduction in lanes and safety concerns. At the time of the collision, the officer was approximately 600 feet from De La Torre's vehicle.
The crash led to a highway closure as the vehicles were removed from the scene, the CHP reported.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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