A dirt bike rider was killed in a late-night crash at Airline Drive and Berry Road in Houston; police say the bike was illegal and had no headlights.
HOUSTON — A late-night crash involving a dirt bike left one person dead and shut down a busy north Houston intersection for hours, police said.
According to Sgt. Dallas with the Houston Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Division, officers responded just after 11 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of Airline Drive and Berry Road. Investigators said a dirt bike was traveling northbound on Airline when another vehicle, heading southbound, attempted to make a left turn onto Berry.
“The driver of the dirt bike struck the front of her vehicle,” Dallas said. “The driver went airborne. He was not wearing a helmet and he succumbed to his injuries here on scene.”
Police said there was no sign of impairment from the driver of the other vehicle. The dirt bike was not street legal and had no headlights, making it difficult for drivers to see it in the poorly lit area.
HPD said they had received multiple calls Sunday night about dirt bikes and ATVs on Houston streets, despite such vehicles being prohibited from public roadways.
“There’s a lot of dark places in Houston that are not well lit on our main roadways,” Dallas said. “It’s very difficult for oncoming drivers to be able to see these vehicles, and typically they are traveling at high rates of speed.”
The roadway was expected to remain closed for about an hour after the crash.
Dallas said the dirt bike rider is considered at fault, but the investigation is ongoing and surveillance footage from nearby businesses will be reviewed once it becomes available.