A fatal collision occurred yesterday morning in Durham County, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist after a crash with a City of Durham fire truck. As reported by ABC11, the accident took place around 10 a.m. at the intersection of NC 54 and T.W. Alexander Drive when the fire truck, responding to a call with activated sirens and lights, collided with a Suzuki 800 motorcycle.
Identified by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the victim was Dhawal Rasikkumar Desai, a 46-year-old from Apex. Desai was thrown from his motorcycle, suffering fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene. On the scene, law enforcement officers blocked off the intersection and surrounded a Durham Fire Rescue truck and the yellow motorcycle with tape, described CBS 17.
The State Highway Patrol is currently investigating the circumstances of the crash. While the firetruck crew, consisting of the operator and two firefighters, emerged unharmed from the incident, the intersection was closed for several hours to facilitate an on-site investigation, leading the North Carolina Department of Transportation to estimate a reopening time at approximately 5:40 p.m. last night, as per their alert.
Photographs from the scene showed the severely damaged yellow motorcycle and an abandoned helmet lying next to the firetruck, highlighted in coverage by WRAL. The right of way at the time of the collision has yet to be determined, and the State Highway Patrol has not filed charges while the investigation of the crash continues.
