Motorcycle Accidents Los Angeles County

Comedian Jay Leno, who is due to replace Johnny Carson next year as host of "The Tonight Show," was slightly injured in a motorcycle crash over the weekend, authorities said. Leno was riding his motorcycle along Mulholland Highway above Calabasas when the accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, fire officials said. According to wire service reports, Leno was making a U-turn to help another motorcyclist when he was hit by a third cycle, driven by Jeffrey Flaherty, 48, of Hermosa Beach.

A 33-year-old Las Vegas man died Monday when he lost control of his motorcycle on a strip of highway in the Angeles National Forest and plunged 300 feet down an embankment, authorities said. Scott Bangert was driving 60 mph westbound on the Angeles Forest Highway, about four miles west of Big Pines, at about 9:30 a.m. when he slid off the shoulder, according to the California Highway Patrol. The speed limit at the location is 55 mph, CHP Officer Karen Faciane said.

Stunt motorcyclist Robbie Knievel, son of Evel Knievel, suffered minor injuries Saturday when he crashed in an attempt to hurdle 25 pickup trucks during a stunt at a Cerritos car dealership. Knievel, 29, underwent surgery at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center for cuts on his buttocks, said family friend and neurosurgeon Dr. Lonnie Hammargren, who coordinated medical planning for the stunt. Knievel was released in the evening.

A 35-year-old Palmdale man was killed early Monday when he lost control of his motorcycle and was hit by a tanker truck, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said. The accident occurred about 5:30 a.m. on the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway near Santiago Road, according to CHP spokeswoman Rosa Ray. The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Ray said. Witnesses said the man was riding between two lanes of the freeway before the accident.

A man leaving a fund-raising event that attracted more than 21,000 motorcyclists was killed and his wife critically injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday afternoon, authorities said. The accident was one of three serious collisions involving participants in the Love Ride, the country's largest motorcycle charity ride. Two men were hospitalized with injuries during the ride from Glendale to Castaic and later a semitrailer truck overturned in Castaic while swerving to avoid some cyclists.

A motorcyclist stopped by sheriff's deputies for turning without signaling led the deputies on a high-speed chase on and off the Foothill Freeway before the motorcycle crashed in Glendale, deputies said Tuesday. Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Mills said that Carlos Hernandez, 18, of San Fernando, was treated for head and other injuries at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

A 32-year-old Van Nuys man was killed in an accident Friday when he lost control of his motorcycle and fell into the path of a semitrailer-truck in Downey, the California Highway Patrol said. The motorcyclist, whose identity was withheld until his family could be contacted, fell off his bike and was struck by the right rear tire of the truck at the transition from the southbound Golden State Freeway to the southbound 605 Freeway, a CHP official said.

A motorcyclist was killed Sunday after losing control of his Harley-Davidson and sliding under the wheels of a tractor-trailer near Arleta, authorities said. The unidentified cyclist was traveling north on the Golden State Freeway at Osborne Street about 4:20 p.m. when he tried to pass between a tanker truck and another vehicle, California Highway Patrol Officer Karen Faciane said.

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer suffered major injuries Tuesday when his motorcycle rear-ended a slow truck on the Golden State Freeway, just south of Weldon Canyon Road. Gregory Smith was riding his personal motorcycle north at about 60 mph when he switched lanes and slammed into a tractor-trailer traveling 10 mph up a steep grade, according to California Highway Patrol spokesman Doug Sweeney. The accident happened at 9:15 a.m. and blocked traffic for an hour.

A motorcyclist died after colliding with a car Saturday night in the 25700 block of The Old Road, California Highway Patrol officials said. The name of the man, who was in his 30s, was not released. The cause of the 7:30 p.m. accident was under investigation. Paramedics tried to revive the man, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

A 35-year-old Palmdale man was killed early Monday when he lost control of his motorcycle and was hit by a tanker truck, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said. The accident occurred about 5:30 a.m. on the southbound Antelope Valley Freeway near Santiago Road, said CHP spokeswoman Rosa Ray. The unidentified victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Ray said. Witnesses said the man was riding between two lanes of the freeway before the accident.

A motorcyclist riding with a group of friends was killed Saturday on the southbound Harbor Freeway after striking a vehicle he was trying to pass. He fell off his bike and was struck by one of his companions, authorities said. The 47-year-old Fullerton man, whose identity was not released pending notification of relatives, hit the back of a car as he merged into the Harbor Freeway from the northbound San Diego Freeway, said California Highway Patrol Officer Richard Richards.

A Palmdale motorcyclist was fatally injured Sunday when he careened off a freeway onramp after miscalculating a curve, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said. Ivis Rolando Tovar, 30, was pronounced dead at Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center at 12:41 p.m., 45 minutes after the accident, said CHP Officer Spencer Ammons. Tovar was riding a 1981 Suzuki GS-450 motorcycle when he failed to negotiate the curve at Avenue D onramp to the Antelope Valley Freeway, Ammons said.

A 23-year-old rider killed Sunday during a motorcycle race at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale has been identified by authorities as Darrell McNutt of Michigan. McNutt was taking part in a motocross event, said Deputy Daryl Bonsall of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Palmdale station. The crash happened about 3 p.m., and McNutt suffered major head injuries. He died at Antelope Valley Hospital.

A 23-year-old rider killed Sunday during a motorcycle race at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale has been identified by authorities as Darrell McNutt of Michigan. McNutt was taking part in a motocross event, said Deputy Daryl Bonsall of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Palmdale station. The crash happened about 3 p.m., and McNutt suffered major head injuries. He died at Antelope Valley Hospital.

A 23-year-old rider was killed Sunday during a motorcycle race at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, authorities said. The man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of family, was taking part in a motocross event, said Deputy Jeff Moore of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Palmdale station. The crash happened about 3 p.m., and the man suffered major head injuries. He died at Antelope Valley Hospital.

Worried for his safety, Brandan Hinkle's family urged him against becoming a motorcycle cop. But Hinkle, of Aliso Viejo, was determined. A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy for 11 years, he vowed to put behind him a previous, unsuccessful attempt to join the elite unit of motorcycle deputies. And this time, he looked destined for success. Hinkle, 33, was flying through training and was only weeks from finishing when a head-on collision with a car took his life Wednesday.

A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy and motorcycle trainee was fatally injured Wednesday when he collided with a car near Diamond Bar, authorities said. Brandan Hinkle, 33, of Aliso Viejo, was taken to Brea Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Sheriff Lee Baca said. The driver of the car and a 2-year-old girl riding with her were taken to a hospital with minor injuries. They were treated and released, Sheriff's Capt. Ray Leyva said.