By Gina Yarbrough
Carlsbad, CA–A 24-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a traffic collision that ignited a small vegetation fire near the crash site Saturday afternoon in Carlsbad, authorities said.
Carlsbad police officers responded to a call around 2:37 p.m. of a traffic collision at the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Solamar Drive.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the male rider of a motorcycle had been traveling northbound on Carlsbad Boulevard when he lost control and crashed near Solamar Drive. Preliminary investigation estimates the motorcyclist was traveling in excess of 90 mph.
The collision caused the motorcycle gas tank to become dislodged and a fire was started in nearby vegetation. The motorcycle rider was also burned. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Carlsbad fire crews.
The rider was transported by air ambulance to UCSD Burn Center but later died of his injuries. The identity of the deceased driver will be released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor. The investigation is ongoing.
