Oakhurst woman dies after SR41 accident

One woman was killed, and her husband was injured after their motorcycle collided with an SUV.

According to California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Jensen, Gary Shipp, 59, of Cleburne, Texas, was driving his 1994 Toyota 4-Runner on River Falls Road in Oakhurst at 1:18 p.m. on Wednesday. Jensen’s report says Shipp then tried to merge southbound onto State Route 41.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Kellerhals and his wife, Denise, both 64, of Oakhurst, were riding northbound on State Route 41 on a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Shipp then reportedly failed to yield the right of way and pulled into the second lane.

Lawrence Kellerhals was unable to brake in time, and collided with the front end of Shipp’s vehicle, at which point both he, and Denise Kellerhals, were thrown from the Harley.

Shipp, according to Jensen’s report, was unharmed, while Lawrence and Denise Kellerhals suffered moderate to major injuries respectively. Both victims were taken by ambulance to the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, where Denise Kellerhals, who was the passenger on the motorcycle, died of her injuries later that evening.

“That’s what happens with accidents like this,” said CHP spokesperson Officer K. Lutz. “The internal injuries aren’t apparent at the scene.”

The investigation into the accident is ongoing, but so far, no charges have been filed against Shipp. At this time, it is not believed that alcohol or drugs played a part in the collision.