Crews responded to a vehicle vs. motorcycle collision on Monday night, July 1; a crash that resulted in the death of the motorcyclist.

According to the CHP, the incident occurred on the Oakdale-Waterford Highway near the intersection of Rice Road shortly after 7 p.m.

The scene was midway between Oakdale and Waterford, said officials.

The motorcyclist, who was thrown from his cycle when a vehicle pulled out from Rice Road into his path, was identified as Thomas Butler, 38, of Waterford. He was northbound on the highway on a 2006 Suzuki approaching the Rice Road intersection when the SUV pulled into his path. Butler was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Authorities said the driver of the other vehicle, a 61-year old woman from Denair, said the location of the sun made it so she couldn’t see the motorcyclist heading toward her on the highway before pulling out. Her vehicle caught on fire following the collision and she was taken to Memorial Medical Center with reportedly moderate injuries.

Fire and emergency personnel were on scene along with the CHP and a portion of the roadway was shut down briefly on Monday night for the investigation and clean-up efforts.