Motorcyclist, 20, Crashes And Dies After Fleeing Riverside County Traffic Stop

MENIFEE, CA — A 20-year-old motorcyclist was fatally injured when he lost control and crashed while racing to get away from police in Menifee, authorities said Wednesday.

The fatality occurred shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday on Bradley Road, just north of Cherry Hills Boulevard, according to the Menifee Police Department.

Agency spokesman Chase Coburn said that patrol officers conducting an anti-driving under the influence saturation patrol along Bradley spotted the motorcyclist, whose identity was not immediately released, ahead of them and "observed ... the rider fail to stop for a stop sign" at Desert Hills Road.

Officers attempted to catch up to him, signaling him to stop, but he "accelerated away from the officers," Coburn alleged.

He said the pursuit was terminated for public safety, and officers slowed down and turned off their overhead lights and sirens.

"The officers continued driving north on Bradley and discovered the motorcycle rider had crashed," the police spokesman said.

He said the man's 2016 BMW motorcycle had struck the inside curb at Bradley and Cherry Hills, causing the bike to tumble, hurling the victim onto the roadway. No other vehicles were involved.

"Witnesses reported seeing the motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed just prior to the crash," Coburn said.

Riverside County Fire Department paramedics arrived within a few minutes and attempted life-saving measures, but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It is unknown if alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash," Coburn said. "The investigation is ongoing."