Santa Monica Man on Motorcycle Dies Attempting an Unsafe Pass

A 64-year-old Santa Monica man riding a motorcycle died today in a collision with another vehicle on the Angeles Forest Highway near La Canada Flintridge, authorities said.

The victim, who was not wearing a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet, was southbound on the highway, north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, on a 2012 Ducati around 12:30 p.m. when the bike collided with a 2003 Toyota driven by 24-year-old Juan Medina of Baldwin Park, according to the CHP.

The crash investigation revealed that the Ducati crossed into opposing lanes in an attempt to pass the Toyota, which was also southbound on Angeles Forest Highway, when Medina turned left onto Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, the CHP reported.

The motorcycle collided with the front end of the Toyota, ejecting the rider, who suffered blunt force head trauma and a broken neck, according to the CHP.

He was airlifted from the scene and pronounced dead by paramedics at 1:12 p.m., the CHP reported.

--City News Service