Biker dies from trauma

A motorcyclist involved in a high-speed collision July 1 on Fairview Road has died after 10 days in the hospital in a medically induced coma, authorities said Wednesday.

Wesley Estes, 34, of Garden Grove, was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m. Tuesday at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where friends and relatives had kept an around-the-clock vigil since the accident nearly two weeks ago.

An autopsy on Wednesday found the cause of death to be blunt force trauma as a result of the collision.

Many gathered over the weekend at a Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Santa Ana to offer what they could to a man who had touched them all.

"I was Wes' pastor for awhile," said Pete Cropsey of Brave Heart Fellowship. "He was a biker guy but also a loving man and dedicated friend, the kind of guy you could call anytime of night and he would drop anything to come help you."

He loved God and even in this tragedy brought people closer to that faith, Cropsey added.

Estes was on his way to church having exited the 405 freeway, heading down Fairview when the driver of a white Dodge Caravan pulled out in front of him at Belfast Avenue, police said.

He was unable to slow down before broadsiding the van, launching him through another vehicle, which then rolled on top of him, Costa Mesa police said. The van's driver was not seriously injured, police said.

Investigators will submit their findings to Orange County prosecutors who will decide whether to press charges against the van's driver, authorities said.

Funeral services for Estes have not yet been confirmed.