1 Killed, 1 Injured in Motorcycle Collision

SIMI VALLEY —  A Thousand Oaks man was killed Tuesday afternoon when two motorcycles collided on a windy stretch of Tapo Canyon Road north of Simi Valley, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Peter Michael Bowen, 36, was airlifted to Simi Valley Hospital, where he died shortly after the 1:15 p.m. crash, officers said. An autopsy is scheduled today.

The crash occurred when Bowen, who was wearing a helmet, lost control of his 1983 Suzuki motorcycle while traveling north on Tapo Canyon Road about a mile north of Walnut Street, officers said.

Bowen was traveling about 50 mph when he crossed into the southbound lanes and slammed head-on into Gregory James Dyer, 57, who was riding his 1993 Honda Goldwing, officers said.

Dyer of Simi Valley was taken by ambulance to Simi Valley Hospital, where he was treated for minor aches and released. At the time of the crash, he was wearing a helmet and traveling about 35 mph.

Tapo Canyon is a four-lane paved road used by gravel and sand truckers doing construction in the area and by vehicles entering and leaving Tapo Canyon Park, officers said.

After the crash, all lanes of Tapo Canyon Road were closed for more than two hours, causing a traffic backup, officers said.