Long Beach
Police Department

Media Relations
400 W. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-5273
9/18/2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 2016
Subject:
FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISION
Contact:
Media Relations Detail
(562) 570-5273






On Thursday, September 15th, 2016, at approximately 1156 hours Officers from the Long Beach Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of Cherry Avenue and Bixby Road regarding an injury traffic collision.

Upon arrival Officers located a traffic collision involving a motorcycle and delivery truck. The motorcycle rider had sustained major head and body trauma and was transported to a local hospital by LBPD Fire personnel.

The preliminary investigation revealed the delivery truck; driven by a 51 year old male resident of Buena Park was traveling southbound Cherry Avenue at Bixby Road, on a green light intending to make a left turn onto eastbound Bixby Road.

The motorcyclist, a 51 year old resident of Signal Hill was traveling northbound Cherry Avenue approaching Bixby Road on a green light.

Due to heavy traffic conditions northbound traffic was grid locked at Cherry Avenue and Bixby Road when the signal lights began to phase to yellow.

The delivery truck driver began his left turn through a clear, but grid locked intersection. The motorcyclist, who per witnesses had been lane splitting and weaving in and out of traffic, decided to enter the intersection even though traffic was grid locked and collided with the delivery truck.

On September 17, 2016 the Long Beach Police Department was advised that the motorcyclist identified as William Skipper died at a local hospital from his injuries.

Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail Detective David Lauro at (562) 570-7355.