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Rider on a rented Harley-Davidson loses control, hits truck on highway into Yosemite

A motorcycle rider suffered major injuries in a collision with a pickup truck on a road into Yosemite National Park, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Mariposa County. The CHP said 56-year-old Robin Buranello of France was driving a rented 2023 Harley Davidson motorcycle along a steep, winding section of Highway 140 east toward Yosemite National Park. East of Buffalo Gulch Road, Buranello caused the motorcycle to cross over the double yellow lines and into the westbound lane. At the same time, 66-year-old Ronald Simpson of Mariposa was driving a 2019 Ford pickup truck west on Highway 140.

According to the CHP, Simpson was driving around a curve in the road and was unable to avoid a collision with the motorcycle which was on the wrong side of the roadway.

The collision caused Buranello to be ejected from the motorcycle. Authorities said a CHP helicopter landed in nearby Midpines and transported Buranello to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment of major injuries.

Simpson was not injured in the crash which caused moderate damage to the Ford and major damage to the motorcycle, according to the release.

According to the CHP, the cause of the collision is under investigation.