29 May 2012, at approx. 8:20 pm, the Sonora Police Department
responded to a reported vehicle vs. motorcycle accident at the
intersection of South Washington Street and Church Street.
Officers determined that Ariel Diggan, 22 of Sonora, was
traveling on South Washington Street in a 1998 Dodge Ram pick-up; W.
Allen Flud, 47 of Jamestown, was also traveling on South Washington
Street, in the opposite direction of Diggan, on a 2003 Harley Davidson
motorcycle.
When both vehicles reached the intersection of South Washington
Street and Church Street, Diggan failed to yield the right of way to
Flud and made a left turn onto Church Street directly in front of Flud.
Witnesses stated that both vehicles were traveling at the speed limit
and that Flud was unable to avoid colliding with the side of Diggan’s
vehicle, as Diggan turned in front of him.
The force of the collision ejected Flud from his motorcycle and
onto the pavement. Flud was taken by ambulance to Sonora Regional
Medical Center then flown to Doctor’s Memorial Hospital in Modesto.
South Washington Street was closed for approximately 45 minutes
during this incident. The investigation into this accident is
continuing.