Community
Fatal Motorcycle Collision - Victim Identified
***UPDATE - age corrected***
ORIGNAL RELEASE - April 16, 2025
On April 16, 2025, at approximately 11:15 a.m., a motorcycle and an agricultural bus were involved in a traffic collision at the onramp to northbound 101 at Main and Nicholson. The motorcycle was traveling west on Main Street, preparing to make a northbound turn onto the freeway. A bus traveling northbound on Nicholson had a green light when the motorcycle, stopped at a red light, made a right turn without yielding prior to entering the intersection. The motorcycle failed to navigate the turn and collided with the passenger side of the bus. The motorcyclist sustained major injuries at the scene and was transported to Marian Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver and passengers on the bus were uninjured.
Investigators do not believe drugs and/or alcohol were factors in the collision. Identification is being withheld pending notification of family. The case remains under investigation by the SMPD Traffic Unit. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Officer Nickolas Barton of the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Unit at (805) 928-3781 extension 1358.
Prepared by:
Lieutenant Nate Totorica
(805)928-3781 ext. 2430
[email protected]
Fatal Motorcycle Collision - Victim Identified
***UPDATE - age corrected*** 
UPDATED RELEASE - April 22, 2025
Case #: SMPD25-0004962
On April 16, 2025, at approximately 11:15 a.m., a motorcyclist was fatally injured in a collision with an agricultural bus at the northbound U.S. 101 onramp near Main Street and Nicholson Avenue.
The motorcyclist, traveling west on Main Street, attempted a right turn onto the northbound US101 onramp after being stopped for a red light and collided with the passenger side of the bus, which had a green signal. The motorcyclist, identified as Philip Wesley Leonard, 78, of Santa Maria, was transported to Marian Medical Center, where he later died. No injuries occurred to the bus occupants.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in this case. Anyone with information or questions about the investigation is encouraged to contact Officer Nick Barton of the SMPD Traffic Unit at (805) 928-3781 ext. 1358.
Prepared by:
Daniel Rios, Lieutenant
(805) 928 - 3781 ext. 1307
[email protected]
The motorcyclist, traveling west on Main Street, attempted a right turn onto the northbound US101 onramp after being stopped for a red light and collided with the passenger side of the bus, which had a green signal. The motorcyclist, identified as Philip Wesley Leonard, 78, of Santa Maria, was transported to Marian Medical Center, where he later died. No injuries occurred to the bus occupants.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in this case. Anyone with information or questions about the investigation is encouraged to contact Officer Nick Barton of the SMPD Traffic Unit at (805) 928-3781 ext. 1358.
Prepared by:
Daniel Rios, Lieutenant
(805) 928 - 3781 ext. 1307
[email protected]
ORIGNAL RELEASE - April 16, 2025
On April 16, 2025, at approximately 11:15 a.m., a motorcycle and an agricultural bus were involved in a traffic collision at the onramp to northbound 101 at Main and Nicholson. The motorcycle was traveling west on Main Street, preparing to make a northbound turn onto the freeway. A bus traveling northbound on Nicholson had a green light when the motorcycle, stopped at a red light, made a right turn without yielding prior to entering the intersection. The motorcycle failed to navigate the turn and collided with the passenger side of the bus. The motorcyclist sustained major injuries at the scene and was transported to Marian Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver and passengers on the bus were uninjured.
Investigators do not believe drugs and/or alcohol were factors in the collision. Identification is being withheld pending notification of family. The case remains under investigation by the SMPD Traffic Unit. Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Officer Nickolas Barton of the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Unit at (805) 928-3781 extension 1358.
Prepared by:
Lieutenant Nate Totorica
(805)928-3781 ext. 2430
[email protected]
Address/Location
Santa Maria Police Department
1111 W Betteravia Rd
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-928-3781