Motorcyclist Dies in 4-Way Collision

Four vehicles collided in North Hollywood, killing a motorcyclist and injuring his passenger as they hurried to a hospital because the passenger’s wife had just given birth, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

Police said Brian Belafsky, 34, of North Hollywood was killed when he was thrown from his motorcycle Tuesday at Victory Boulevard and Riverton Avenue. His passenger, Ray Alarid, 22, of North Hollywood was slightly injured. There were no other injuries in the accident that closed the intersection for nearly two hours.

Belafsky was heading east shortly after 3 p.m. when he tried to pass a car that was in the left-turn lane, Detective Wayne Duford said. The car turned and sideswiped the motorcycle, sending it out of control into two westbound cars stopped at a traffic light.

Belafsky was thrown 20 feet and killed instantly. Alarid was also thrown from the motorcycle. He was taken by helicopter to Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was treated for scratches and bruises and released. Neither of the victims was wearing a helmet, police said.

Alarid said the two were speeding on the motorcycle because his wife had just delivered a baby at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, police said.