Sad very sad I guess we all here are a bit like this
Sister says motorcycle crash victim had 'need for speed'
By CLARISSA ALJENTERA
Herald Staff Writer
Relatives of Rey Barajas remember times when he would run around making car noises so often they had to tell him to settle down.
Barajas, 29, suffered fatal injuries on Tuesday in a motorcycle accident in Monterey coming out of the tunnel onto Lighthouse Avenue.
Barajas' sister, Elva Caldera, said her younger brother was into cars and speed most of his life.
Caldera said her brother began working as a truck driver with their father and had owned his own business for a while.
Barajas was born in Santa Maria and moved to Gonzales with his family when he was in elementary school, Caldera said. He graduated from Gonzales High School. Recently he'd spent two years working as the dispatch manager for Andrews Trucking.
Barajas enjoyed watching the cartoon "Speed Racer" as a child, she recalled.
"He always had a need for speed," Caldera said.
Barajas had recently bought the 2005 Suzuki 1300 for his 29th birthday, relatives said.
"He had wanted that bike for a very long time," said his sister, Griselda De La Rosa. "He was a big baby with a new toy. He was very excited."
Barajas and a friend were riding their motorcycles through the tunnel heading into New Monterey when Barajas lost control of his motorcycle.
He crashed into a light pole, police reported. The other rider also lost control of his motorcycle but investigators are unclear about what happened. Both men were wearing helmets, police said. The accident is under investigation.
Barajas was taken to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where he later died. His friend suffered moderate injuries, firefighters reported.
"(Barajas) was very humble," said Valerie Andrews, a friend. "He was a great friend to everyone. He was a man of integrity."
claljentera@monterey herald.com
Sister says motorcycle crash victim had 'need for speed'
By CLARISSA ALJENTERA
Herald Staff Writer
Relatives of Rey Barajas remember times when he would run around making car noises so often they had to tell him to settle down.
Barajas, 29, suffered fatal injuries on Tuesday in a motorcycle accident in Monterey coming out of the tunnel onto Lighthouse Avenue.
Barajas' sister, Elva Caldera, said her younger brother was into cars and speed most of his life.
Caldera said her brother began working as a truck driver with their father and had owned his own business for a while.
Barajas was born in Santa Maria and moved to Gonzales with his family when he was in elementary school, Caldera said. He graduated from Gonzales High School. Recently he'd spent two years working as the dispatch manager for Andrews Trucking.
Barajas enjoyed watching the cartoon "Speed Racer" as a child, she recalled.
"He always had a need for speed," Caldera said.
Barajas had recently bought the 2005 Suzuki 1300 for his 29th birthday, relatives said.
"He had wanted that bike for a very long time," said his sister, Griselda De La Rosa. "He was a big baby with a new toy. He was very excited."
Barajas and a friend were riding their motorcycles through the tunnel heading into New Monterey when Barajas lost control of his motorcycle.
He crashed into a light pole, police reported. The other rider also lost control of his motorcycle but investigators are unclear about what happened. Both men were wearing helmets, police said. The accident is under investigation.
Barajas was taken to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where he later died. His friend suffered moderate injuries, firefighters reported.
"(Barajas) was very humble," said Valerie Andrews, a friend. "He was a great friend to everyone. He was a man of integrity."
claljentera@monterey herald.com
