A Saturday morning crash in east Las Vegas left a 48-year-old rider dead after a car turned across the path of the stolen motorcycle he was on, police said. The man was thrown from the bike, taken to UMC Trauma Center and later pronounced dead.
Crash details
Officers were called around 9:23 a.m. to East Owens Avenue at North 23rd Street for a collision involving a vehicle and a motorcycle, according to News 3 Las Vegas. Investigators say evidence at the scene and witness accounts indicate a stolen 2021 Kawasaki was heading east in the right travel lane when a 2010 Chevrolet, waiting just east of 23rd in the left-turn-only lane, failed to yield and turned south into its path. The Kawasaki struck the front right side of the Chevrolet and the rider was ejected.
Medical crews rushed the rider to the UMC Trauma Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The 38-year-old driver of the Chevrolet was taken to the UMC emergency room with minor injuries and, according to police, showed no signs of impairment.
Investigation
The case is being handled by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Collision Investigation Section, which reviews fatal crashes in the valley. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department materials describe how the unit documents and reconstructs crash scenes, then works with the coroner's office on traffic-related death investigations. In this case, detectives are collecting physical evidence and interviewing witnesses as they piece together what happened.
Why left-turn crashes matter
Left-turn, across-path crashes, in which a vehicle turns into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, are a common and often deadly scenario across the country. Federal researchers have identified these left-turn, across-path collisions as one of the leading crash types tied to serious injuries and fatalities, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. Traffic engineers frequently cite patterns like these as a key reason intersections remain a top priority for safety upgrades.
How to help
The driver of the Chevrolet cooperated with police at the scene, according to News 3 Las Vegas. Anyone who saw the crash or has additional information is asked to contact the LVMPD Collision Investigation Section at 702-828-3595 or use the department's public contact options. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers. Investigators plan to review vehicle damage, any available surveillance footage and witness statements before determining whether criminal charges will be recommended.
