A tragic incident unfolded on U.S. 60 near Val Vista Drive in the East Valley this past Wednesday when a Mesa man was killed in a motorcycle accident. The victim was identified as 21-year-old Derrick Kleinschmidt, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The crash occurred just before 3:30 p.m., and early reports suggest that Kleinschmidt rear-ended another vehicle while on his motorcycle. He was subsequently ejected and struck by other vehicles traveling along the highway. Kleinschmidt was pronounced dead at the scene, as per AZFamily.
All drivers involved in this horrific accident remained at the scene, with authorities confirming that no one else is being sought in relation to the crash. As of now, it is not clear what factors contributed to this fatal sequence of events. The eastbound traffic on U.S. 60 was significantly affected for several hours, as only two lanes and the HOV lane remained open during the investigation. The road was later reopened.
"It appears that a motorcycle collided with the rear end of another vehicle," Arizona DPS explained, detailing how the rider was thrown into the middle lanes and hit by multiple vehicles. The detailed account of the accident, including the immediate aftermath, was reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The affected stretch of highway, a vital artery through the East Valley, resumed regular traffic flow a few hours following the crash.
