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Sandra Yi ReportingA 23-year old man is dead after crashing his motorcycle into the back of a parked semi. It happened last night in South Salt Lake.
The victim was on a bullet bike. He swerved to pass a car in front of him and ran into a semi, which was parked along the curb.
Police say he made two mistakes that all drivers need to be aware of.
Tracy Tingey: "We've lost the life of a young man that, had he been driving properly, would still be with us."
Police say Christopher Downard was going well over 100 miles an hour on his bullet bike when he crashed into a parked semi.
Tracy Tingey: "The impact was so great that the helmet made no difference."
Downard was going west on 3900 South. He approached a car in the same lane and passed on the right, but a semi was in the parking lane.
Tracy Tingey: "Maybe he just didn't see it. Maybe he was not focused that way, or maybe he thought that he could pass and make it. We just don't know and we'll never know, really."
The crash has police urging caution to motorcycle drivers.
Tracy Tingey: "I think that they get carried away, especially in the beginning of spring into summer."
Police say they especially worry about bullet bikes.
Tracy Tingey: "They're designed for speed."
A few years ago police infrared video captured these bullet bikers. Most of them were accused of going 60 to 90 miles an hour along 13th East in Sandy.
Tracy Tingey: "A lot of cases have, there are drivers out there that really don't have the training to be on a motorcycle with that much horsepower that get up and go like that. Speeds can really creep up on you."
But he says last night's crash is a reminder for all drivers.
Tracy Tingey: "You have to maintain the speed within the posted speed limit, and in this particular case, you just don't pass on the right. It's just not safe."
Common sense, but police say they can't emphasize it enough. Police believe Downard had been drinking before the crash. They're awaiting toxicology results.
Downard leaves behind a wife who is six months pregnant.
