Girl, 17, Killed By Speeding Motorcyclist In Nearby Salinas Identified

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA – A 17-year-old girl fatally struck by a speeding motorcyclist who was allegedly driving without a license in Salinas Tuesday morning has been identified as Gabriella Baes, police said today.

Baes, a Salinas resident, was hit by a motorcycle while in a crosswalk on North Main Street at Harden Parkway heading toward Northridge Mall around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, police Sgt. Gerry Ross said.

The driver, 29-year-old Anthony Bennett, sped past a red light and struck the girl, whose head struck the pavement, Ross said.

The girl also suffered multiple broken bones to her left side and was transported to Natividad Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries, Ross said.

The girl was walking ahead of her 16-year-old cousin, who tried to pull her away from the approaching motorcyclist, according to Ross.

Bennett fell off his motorcycle and allegedly tried to walk away from the scene, but struggled with witnesses who held him down until officers arrived, Ross said.

"It was pretty horrific scene for everybody involved," he said. Some witnesses estimated the motorcyclist was traveling at around 90 mph, Ross said.

His Suzuki GSX-R600 slid and came to a stop several feet away from the collision. Some witnesses reported Bennett was driving around 90 mph, the sergeant said.

Bennett was transported to Natividad Medical Center for bumps, bruises, back pain, a possible concussion and other moderate injuries. He was expected to be released today and booked into Monterey County Jail, Ross said.

Bennett was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run resulting in death, unlicensed driving, reckless driving, reckless driving causing injury and having no insurance at the collision scene, according to Ross.

Last week, Bennett was cited by a Salinas police officer for recklessly driving a car, which was impounded for 30 days, according to Ross.

He had a suspended driver's license from Oregon and moved to Salinas earlier this year, but never obtained a California driver's license, Ross said.

Investigators haven't determined if drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision.

Anyone with information on the collision is asked to call Ross at (831) 758-7975. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the police tip line at (831) 775-4222, the WeTip line at (800) 782-7463 or can send a text
to 847411 with "SPD831" in the message.

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