Motorcyclist Killed, Girl Hurt in Accident

A 39-year-old Westminster man was killed Monday when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a concrete pole. The bike then struck and critically injured a 15-year-old girl, throwing her 75 feet, police said.

Melissa Anderson, who attends Marina High School in Huntington Beach, was in critical condition with a head injury Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman said. She was struck right outside her family’s apartment.

Louie Reed Jr. of Westminster died at the scene after his Honda VF700 skidded out of control. He was wearing a helmet but struck a utility pole with the top of his head and died instantly, Westminster police investigator Al Brackett said.

Family members told police that Reed had been riding a motorcycle for only about two months. Another motorcyclist who saw Reed coming off the San Diego Freeway overpass toward southbound Edwards Street said he appeared to be losing control of the bike.

Melissa and a friend--14-year-old Linda Comacho of Huntington Beach--were on the sidewalk near Melissa’s Edwards Street apartment, south of Homer Street,when they saw the rider coming, Brackett said.

The bike skidded along the curb for 25 feet with the rear wheel in the gutter before Reed struck the pole. The impact then whipped the motorcycle counterclockwise and it struck Anderson and Comacho, Brackett said.

Anderson was thrown 75 feet and landed in the street. Comacho was knocked to the side onto a grassy knoll on the west side of the sidewalk.

“She had scuff marks on her pants but she was OK,” Brackett said.