Fish and game warden killed in head-on collision
A motorcyclist who died Sunday after a head-on collision in Valley Springs was a state fish and game warden who covered parts of Calaveras County, the California Highway Patrol confirmed Tuesday.
Fire and law enforcement agencies in the county were mourning the loss of Michael Demasters, 24, of Valley Springs, who was struck by a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro that crossed over the double yellow lines into the path of his 2021 Kawasaki ZX-6R on Double Springs Road.
The Facebook page for the Angels Camp and Altaville-melones fire departments posted on Tuesday that Demasters was a “friend to all” public safety agencies.
“We are all saddened by this incident and send our deepest condolences to Michael’s family and friends,” the post said.
A 17-year-old male, who’s name was not released by CHP, was driving the Camaro eastbound about 4:05 p.m. on Double Springs Road when he entered a right-hand curve west of Highway 26. At the same time, Demasters was offduty and riding his motorcycle in the opposite lane into the same curve.
The CHP news release stated the Camaro’s speed caused it to cross over the double-yellow lines and into the path of the Kawasaki, which resulted in a collision that ejected Demasters off of the bike.
Demasters was pronounced dead at the scene, while the juvenile driver was transported to Mark Twain Medical Center in San Andreas for treatment of minor injuries.
Neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor in the collision, the CHP said.
A number of other Calaveras County agencies had posted tributes to Demasters on Facebook as of Tuesday, including the Sheriff’s Office, San Andreas Fire Protection District, Central Calaveras Fire District, and Calaveras Consolidated Fire Protection District.
“A friend to all of our firefighters, we send our sympathies and condolences to Michael’s family,” the Calaveras Consolidated Fire Protection District said in its post.