Dec 18, 2007 4:48 am US/Pacific
Motorcyclist Killed In San Gabriel Valley Chase
COVINA, Calif. (CBS) ―
A motorcyclist who refused to yield led officers on a pursuit that spanned four cities, flew off his bike and slammed into a tree, dying instantly, authorities said.
The pursuit began at 11:39 p.m. Monday near the San Bernardino (10) Freeway at North Azusa Avenue, said West Covina police Lt. Marcos Plebani.
West Covina officers attempted to pull over the rider for a traffic violation but he refused, he said.
"West Covina police terminated the chase about 11:47 p.m." near Lark Ellen Avenue and Arrow Highway, Plebani said.
"He was just going too fast and we called it off because his speeds were making it unsafe to continue the pursuit," he said.
Even after the officers called off the pursuit, the motorcyclist continued to ride at high speeds, Plebani said.
A helicopter crew witnessed the man traveling southbound on North Azusa Avenue just past Arrow Highway, where he lost control and was ejected from his bike, said Covina police Lt. Tim Doonan.
His body flew into a palm tree, he said, and the man was killed instantly.
The riderless motorcycle slid southbound on North Azusa Avenue some 400 feet until it came to rest just before Grondahl Street, Doonan added.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Covina police Sgt. Ric Walczak said. His identity was not immediately released.
No other injuries were reported, he said.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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