Moment motorcyclist fleeing LAPD at 130mph is killed in head-on crash on TV to the horror of newscaster describing the chase live
The shocking moment a motorcyclist died in a head-on collision while fleeing police has been inadvertently broadcast live on television in Los Angeles.
The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon in West Hills as a news chopper from KCBS-TV was broadcasting live footage of the suspect's wild 130mph flight from a traffic stop.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the motorcycle was reported stolen, and police were 'tracking' it after the rider fled from a stop, but officers were not involved in a pursuit.
'Oh my gosh,' a news anchor said, clasping her hands to her mouth as the rider collided head-on with a car. 'We have just seen - sorry, we just saw that motorcycle crash into a car there at the intersection.'
A rider fleeing police on an allegedly stolen motorcycle died in a collision on Thursday
The motorcycle collided with a car head-on as the car was turning through an intersection
LAPD Captain Andy Neiman told the CBS affiliate: 'It's a very sad day here. Just another example of how reckless driving – regardless of who it is – causes death.'
Neiman insisted that despite earlier reports to the contrary, officers were not pursuing the motorcycle at the time of the crash.
Many police departments have policies discouraging pursuits of motorcycles, depending on the circumstances, because of the extreme danger to the rider and others.
'There were some statements made that we were in pursuit of this motorcycle. I just want to make it very clear, at no time were we in pursuit,' said Neiman.
'Oh my gosh,' a news anchor said, clasping her hands to her mouth as the rider collided head-on with a car
According to the LAPD, the motorcycle was reported stolen, and police were 'tracking' it after the rider fled from a stop, but officers were not involved in a pursuit
Nieman said that something unusual about the rider or motorcycle made undercover officers suspicious, and when they ran the bike's plates the vehicle came back as stolen.
He said that when the officers tried to pull the motorcycle over in a parking lot, the rider fled at speeds of more than 100mph.
KCBS said their footage confirmed that the motorcycle approached 130mph in the moments leading up to the crash.
The motorcyclist's identity was not immediately available from the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office.
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