By Khalida Sarwari
The Monterey County coroner’s office today released the name of a 27-year-old woman killed in a crash Saturday afternoon on northbound state Highway 1, south of Big Sur Village.
Melissa Thornton, a Florida resident, was riding on the back of a motorcycle that struck the front bumper of a motor home as the motorcycle passed the other vehicle around 4:50 p.m.
The impact sent Thornton flying off the motorcycle and into the path of the motor home. She was struck by the motor home and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the motorcycle was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.