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A motorcyclist riding an allegedly stolen bike was killed Thursday in a horrific crash that occurred when he fled at speeds topping 140 mph and slammed head-on into a car in West Hills, violently hurling the rider about 100 feet down the street.
The rider was pronounced dead by paramedics in the 22800 block of West Roscoe Boulevard at about 1:15 p.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department treated two other people, believed to have been in the car that was struck, for unspecified injuries at the scene.
Aerial television footage showed the motorcycle rider traveling at speeds that reached as high as 140 mph, but slowing to around 80 mph when the crash occurred, sending the rider somersaulting through the air over the car. The rider landed on a sidewalk about 100 feet from the original crash, which severely damaged the front end of the car that was struck.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were “tracking” the motorcycle, which had been reported stolen, but were not chasing it when the crash occurred. It was unclear exactly where police first encountered the rider.