A U.S. Army veteran who was fatally injured while apparently engaging in freeway stunts on his motorcycle near Corona was remembered Monday as a man who “died doing what he loved.”
Leslie “Hatter” Elliott, 28, suffered grave injuries about 9:50 a.m. Sunday while going southbound on Interstate 15, near Dos Lagos Drive, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The agency conducted a preliminary investigation at the scene, and now officers from the Riverside station are examining details leading up to and immediately following the fatality.
According to witnesses and published reports, Elliott was among about 50 members of the Ruthless Ryderz motorcycle club slow-rolling on the freeway at the time of the crash.
Club members started a GoFundMe fundraiser in the victim’s honor, endeavoring to raise $30,000 for the benefit of his family. The page can be found here.
“He died doing what he loved, surrounded by the people he loved doing it with,” according to a statement posted to the GoFundMe page. “Hatter had a passion for motorcycles, but more than that, he had a love for the motorcycle community. His famous line was always `bikes build bonds,’ and he lived that belief to the fullest.”
There was also a salute to his military service in Afghanistan.
Elliott and his fellow motorcyclists were using all three freeway lanes to horse around and hold up traffic as they headed southbound on I-15, according to the CHP.
During the antics, Elliott attempted to stand up and steer his bike at the same time, losing control and toppling over, CHP officials said.
He suffered major head trauma and died 45 minutes later at Corona Regional Medical Center.
Fellow riders reportedly stonewalled officers’ initial efforts to procure information, even removing his bike from the scene.
It was unclear whether criminal charges may be filed in the case.
— City News Service