A 40-year-old man was speeding away from a police officer on his motorcycle, and was killed as it struck a hydrant and light pole in Burbank Saturday.
A patrol officer had spotted the speeding motorcyclist going eastbound on Alameda Avenue, where the rider nearly struck a stopped vehicle and skidded halfway through the intersection on a red light, said Burbank police officer Joshua Kendrick. That was at about 2:40 a.m near Alameda Avenue at Buena Vista Street.
The officer activated his overhead lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the motorcyclist sped away, going south on Buena Vista Street and turning west onto Riverside Drive — while crossing into the opposing lanes of traffic, Kendrick said.
Due to the speed and erratic driving of the motorcyclist, he said, the officer did not pursue him.
But as the officer drove west on Riverside Drive, he saw the same motorcyclist had struck a hydrant and light pole on the northwest corner of Riverside and Bob Hope drives, Kendrick said.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene at approximately 2:48 a.m., he said.
No name was immediately released. Burbank police asked anyone who saw the crash to call them at (818) 238-3100.
—City News Service