Motorcyclist Fleeing Police Dies in Crash

An 18-year-old motorcyclist being chased by Irvine police for speeding early Thursday broadsided a patrol car, killing himself and seriously injuring the officer in the car, authorities said.

At the request of the Irvine Police Department, the California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

The cyclist, a Santa Ana resident who was driving a motorcycle reported stolen in Tustin, was dead on arrival at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, a CHP spokesman said.

The names of the dead man and the injured police officer were withheld until their families could be notified.

According to the CHP, an Irvine patrol officer reported seeing a motorcycle speeding on Jeffrey Road near Walnut Avenue about 12:45 a.m.

Another officer, responding to a call for backup, was northbound on Barranca Parkway preparing to make a left turn onto Harvard Avenue. He had the right of way with a green light and apparently “did not realize how close the pursuit was,” CHP Officer Paul Caldwell said.

The motorcycle allegedly ran the red light and smacked into the left side of the officer’s patrol car, near the driver’s seat, Caldwell said. He said investigators have not determined the exact speed of both vehicles, but the motorcycle was exceeding 55 m.p.h.

Caldwell said evidence at the crash site indicated that the officer had tried to avoid the collision.

The officer was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, police said.