Motorcyclist killed in three-vehicle collision

By Mary Manning

Published Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 | 8:47 a.m.

Updated Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 | 12:28 p.m.

A 36-year-old man riding a 2001 Yamaha motorcycle was killed today in a collision involving a 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck and a 2006 Kenworth semi-truck pulling two trailers, Metro Police said.

The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the motorcyclist as 36-year-old Douglas A. Feldman of Las Vegas. A cause and manner of death haven't been determined, a spokeswoman for the coroner's office said.

The crash occurred about 7 a.m. Rainbow Boulevard was shut down in both directions between Russell Road and Hacienda Avenue for hours until police investigators completed their work at the scene.

Evidence at the scene and witness statements indicate that the Dodge, driven by 74-year-old Joseph Girola of Las Vegas, was going south on Rainbow in the far left travel lane, said Officer Barbara Morgan, a spokeswoman for Metro Police.

The semi-truck was also going south on Rainbow in the center travel lane, police said.

The Yamaha motorcycle was behind the Dodge as traffic going south came to a stop, police said. The motorcycle failed to stay upright, falling on its right side when Feldman and the Yamaha slid into the rear of the Dodge pickup, striking it, police said.

Feldman fell off the Yamaha, and the man and motorcycle slid into the center lane and under the second trailer, where the rider was run over by the truck's rear wheels, police said. The Yamaha was dragged a short distance before coming to rest.

This is the 63rd traffic-related death this year in Metro Police jurisdiction. This collision remains under investigation by Metro's Accident Investigation Section.