By Bill Lindelof and Cathy Locke
blindelof@sacbee.com
A 55-year-old Wilton man died this morning when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a collision on northbound Highway 99 north of 47th Avenue.
The Sacramento County Coroner's website identified him James Walter Murphy.
The accident occurred about 9:55 a.m. when a Mercury Sable driven by a 17-year-old boy swerved out of control into the center median, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to travel back into the northbound lanes, where it collided with a Harley Davidson motorcycle, propelling the rider from the motorcycle.
The motorcycle then collided with a third vehicle, causing minor damage, and the Mercury continued off the roadway and stopped against the sound wall. The teenage driver ran south on 47th Avenue, the CHP said.
Murphy was taken to UC Davis Medical Center with major head injuries and died about 11:30 a.m.
Portions of northbound Highway 99 remained closed until 11:25 a.m.
During a follow-up investigation, CHP officers went to the youth's home in unincorporated Sacramento County and took the teenager to the Highway Patrol office for questioning, according to a CHP news release. He later was released to his sister. The youth's name has not been released because of his age.
Officials said the youth was not injured, and neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to be a factor in the collision. They said charges against the teenager are pending, but may include felony hit and run causing injury, and vehicular manslaughter.
The collision remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the South Sacramento CHP Office at (916) 681-2300, or CHP dispatch at (916) 861-1300.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.









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