Alturas, CA (June 3, 2024) – Tragic news has emerged from Modoc County, where the body of 73-year-old motorcyclist William Robert Knight, who had been reported missing, was discovered in a river near Alturas along with his motorcycle.
Incident Details: William Robert Knight, a resident of San Ramon, was reported missing to the San Ramon Police Department on Sunday, June 2. His last known communication was on Thursday, May 30, when he informed his family he was in Lakeview, Oregon. Subsequent attempts to contact him were unsuccessful, and concerns grew when he failed to return home on Saturday, June 1, as expected. His phone’s last known signal was traced to Alturas on Friday, prompting an extensive search.
The search intensified on Monday, with multiple agencies including the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office, CHP, and members of Knight’s family participating. Authorities then received a call from a motorist at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, reporting a body in the river south of Alturas. Responding deputies were able to positively identify the remains as those of Knight. Nearby, they also found his motorcycle submerged in the river. The circumstances surrounding Knight’s death are currently under investigation by both the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The MCSO is focused on determining the cause and manner of Knight’s death, while the CHP investigates the specifics of the motorcycle crash.
Analysis: Based on the available information, there are a number of potential causes for this horrible incident. If a motorcycle accident did indeed occur, then there is a possibility that road conditions, visibility, or even a defect with the motorcycle itself could be the culprit. However, more information is needed in the investigation before any conclusions are drawn about it. That being said, if it’s found that a defect was the cause, the family of the victim could choose to pursue a wrongful death claim against the manufacturer.
I offer my sincerest condolences to the friends and family of William Robert Knight following this awful incident. I hope that the investigation is able to reveal more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Source: KRCR