Las Vegas Sun

November 24, 2009

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Biker killed passing between trucks

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 | 11:17 a.m.

A motorcyclist trying to pass between a tractor-trailer and a pickup truck was killed Tuesday when he fell under the wheels of the 18-wheeler, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

The man was identified this morning by the coroner's office as 52-year-old Rudy Aragon Sanchez of Las Vegas.

Trooper Angie Chavera said Sanchez was riding his Harley-Davidson Road King west on Craig Road toward Interstate 15 about 1:30 p.m.

"He comes up on the truck in front of him, realizes he can't get around him, so he tries to go between the two, the truck and the semi," Chavera said.

She said Sanchez hit the rear corner of the pickup, lost control of his bike and fell beneath the tractor-trailer, which was carrying 43,000 pounds of candy bars to Utah.

It is against state law for motorcyclists to pass between moving or stationary vehicles that are in adjacent lanes, but it's a risk many motorcyclists take, Chavera said.

"We're not saying all motorcyclists do it, but the ones that do are risking their lives," she said.

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