Two motorcyclists are dead after two violent crashes that happened in Phoenix just before the July 4th holiday weekend.
According to the report filed on the website for Fox 10, Sgt. Mary Cox, with the Phoenix Police Department, issued a statement to reporters. Cox said that the fatal crash happened along Cave Creek Road near the intersection of Greenway Road at approximately 7:43 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd.
Phoenix Police investigators determined that the victim, 47-year-old Eric Bandstra, was riding his motorcycle along Cave Creek Road at a high rate of speed. Bandstra failed to slow down when negotiating a curve in the roadway. His vehicle then struck a raised curb that runs along the road, causing him to lose control. Bandstra was thrown off of his bike and onto the pavement.
Paramedics with the Phoenix Police Department arrived to give aid to Bandstra. He was rushed to an area hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in the crash. Officials say that Bandstra died a short time after he arrived at the hospital.
The fatal crash is currently under investigation.
The Arizona Family reports that a second fatal motorcycle crash that same night along Ithe eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 at 8;30 p.m.
Arizona Department of Public Safety says that the accident happened just west of 32nd Street, where a motorcyclist slammed into a median wall. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. No other vehicles were involved, and no one else was injured. Authorities have withheld the identity of the victim.
A spokesperson for DPS said in a statement that the crash is an ongoing investigation.
