Girl, 17, Killed as Motorcycle Flips

A teen-ager was killed late Wednesday night when the motorcycle she was riding on struck a curb and flipped over, sending her and her boyfriend skidding across a residential street, police said.

Shawna Leigh Triplett, 17, was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton after the 10:45 p.m. accident, Brea Police Officer William Smyser said.

Shawna’s uncle, Tom Triplett, said she and her boyfriend, Jose Guadalupe Garcia, 20, of Bellflower, had spent most of the evening at his Brea home playing checkers and talking.

Just before the accident, the two decided to jump on Garcia’s motorcycle and take “a ride around the block,” Triplett said.

The two were traveling east on Cherry Street, not far from her home when Garcia lost control of the bike, Smyser said.

The cycle hit a curb at Alder Street, sending both Garcia and Shawna flying into the air, Smyser said.

Garcia, who was wearing a helmet, struck the ground, wrenching his back, Smyser said.

Shawna, who was not wearing a helmet, fell onto the pavement.

Garcia, who was treated for back pain and released, was not cited, Smyser said.

Triplett said his niece and her brother had recently moved from Bellflower to live with him. Shawna was planning to enroll Thursday at Brea High.