On August 27, 2023 at about 12:04am the California Highway Patrol (CHP) attempted to initiate a traffic stop of a motorcyclist for speeding on southbound interstate 15 at SR76. A subsequent vehicle pursuit ensued. The motorcyclist fled into Valley Center and then west into the City of Escondido via the Valley Center grade. The CHP provided notification to the Escondido Police Department and requested assistance.
When the motorcyclist entered Escondido, the pursuing CHP officers lost sight of the motorcyclist at Valley Parkway and Ash Street and stopped their pursuit. A short time later, an assisting Escondido PD officer observed the motorcyclist traveling eastbound on Washington Ave at Ash St. Upon seeing the Escondido police officer, the motorcyclist immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed traveling east on Washington Avenue. Before the officer was able to get behind the motorcycle, the motorcyclist ran a red light on eastbound Washington Ave at Harding Street and collided with the front bumper of a vehicle that was a traveling north on Harding Avenue on a green traffic signal. The motorcyclist lost control and was vaulted from the motorcycle and he subsequently collided with the front end of a westbound vehicle. Officers provided life saving measures at the scene. Escondido fire paramedics responded and pronounced the motorcyclist deceased at the scene. The female driver of the vehicle, an Escondido resident, traveling north on Harding Street was not injured. The driver, an adult female Escondido resident, of the second vehicle involved had a complaint of pain and was transported by paramedics to the hospital.
The identification of the motorcyclist, a 22-year-old male from Lake Elsinore, California is pending notification to his family. At this time, it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
The Escondido Police Traffic Unit is still investigating the collision. If you were a witness or have information to assist please contact Officer Paul Smyth at (760)839-4423. Please follow the Escondido Police Department on social media @EscondidoPolice.
To report any suspicious activities in your neighborhood, you may contact the Police Department directly, or you may make an unidentified call on our “Anonymous Tip Line” at 760-743-TIPS (8477) or via our Web site at police.escondido.org
