Motorcyclist dies in collision with CAT bus

Published Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 9:47 a.m.

Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009 | 1:51 p.m.

Fatal crash

A motorcyclist died this morning after running into a Citizens Area Transit bus on the east side of the Las Vegas Valley, Metro Police said.

The collision occurred about 8:07 a.m. as the CAT bus and the motorcycle traveled east on Desert Inn Road just west of Pecos Road.

The CAT bus, driven by Milton Banks, 60, of Las Vegas, was stopped at a red light in the center lane of Desert Inn, police said.

The 22-year-old Las Vegas motorcyclist was also eastbound on Desert Inn in the center lane traveling at a high rate of speed, according to evidence and witnesses at the scene.

As the motorcycle neared the stopped traffic, the driver braked but was unable to stop, police said. The motorcycle went down on its left side and hit the rear of the bus, then the motorcycle rider was ejected and struck the rear of a 2004 Ford Expedition also stopped at the red light, police said.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead by responding emergency medical crews. It appears that excessive speed by the motorcyclist is the cause of this collision, police said.

The Metro Police Fatal Accident Investigation Team is continuing an investigation into this crash. This is the 47th fatal traffic collision in Metro Police jurisdiction this year.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By VegasVegas

7/2/09 at 12:27 p.m.

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This will sound insensitive but this town has too many "cool riders". You know the guy, on the Kawasaki, black helmet, and can't resist going 120+ when he's got open highway ahead. I drive a good length of I-215 daily and there are stretches where these guys blow by me at 100+ and I never saw them approaching behind me.

The motorcyclists who just enjoy the freedom of being out in the open (or the ones who like to save on fuel costs) are greatly outnumbered by the "cool riders" (Go watch Grease 2) who have no regard for safety and own a motorcycle simply because of it's performance.

Those guys unfortunately deserve little sympathy when they perish while putting everyone at risk on the road. Hopefully this individual wasn't one of those and was just in an unfortunate accident.

There's been so many motorcycle fatalities this year that it makes you wonder if drivers just aren't seeing these guys, or if motorcyclists are being careless. Bikers remember: you're small, we can't see you as easily as a big car. Don't ever ASSUME you were seen. Driving defensively will save your life.
By VegasVegas

7/2/09 at 1:59 p.m.

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Well...I see the story was updated...and now we hear about the high rate of speed.

You guys on motorcycles rarely get second chances when you make mistakes. Slow down. For yourself, and for everyone around you.
By skemp311

7/2/09 at 3:54 p.m.

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Good points above. What would a day be without hearing of another tragic death because of an irresponsible motorcycle rider?
By whats_in_the_box

7/2/09 at 5:07 p.m.

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Riding into the back of a a bus. That's crazy. You'd think these guys would slow down after all the recent motorcycle deaths. I'm sorry the guy's dead, but it was self-inflicted and avoidable.