UPDATE: An investigation is underway into the two separate motorcycle crashes that happened Saturday night during Street Vibrations that left a Carson City man dead and another person injured.
The fatal crash, reported at around 5:52 p.m., happened in the area of East Nye Lane and College Parkway and involved a single motorcycle rider who died after crashing through a fence at what appears to be a high rate of speed.
According to Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, the identity and cause of death of the deceased motorcycle rider will be released Tuesday by the coroner.
Contributing factors to the fatal crash includes speed, according to a preliminary investigation, said Sheriff Furlong. The motorcycle rider was traveling east, going into the southbound bend on College Parkway when his motorcycle went straight into the fence maintained by the Carson City Airport.
“As part of the preliminary investigation, speed is a major contributing factor,” said Sheriff Furlong.
Second crash and preliminary investigation
In the second crash, reported at around 8:20 p.m. in the area of College Parkway and Otha Street near the first crash, a preliminary investigation shows that a car and at least one if not two motorcycles had stopped at a barricade that was being used to close College Parkway while the investigation into the fatality was ongoing.
According to the preliminary investigation, a motorcycle traveling eastbound on College Parkway ran into a stopped motorcycle at the barricade. That motorcycle was pushed into the barricade and resulted in injuries to one rider.
The injured motorcycle rider was taken to Renown Medical Center. Their condition is unknown at this time, said Sheriff Furlong. Only one rider was taken to the hospital.
“This appears to be a rear-end accident where one motorcycle ran into a stopped motorcycle,” said Sheriff Furlong.
While numerous accidents have occurred along College Parkway in the area where these two accidents happened Saturday night, road design or speed limits do not appear to be contributing factors into these crashes, said Sheriff Furlong.
“These accidents on the stretch of road have historically appeared to be speed related or intoxication. College Parkway is a safe thoroughfare if drivers follow the speed limit,” said Sheriff Furlong.
Both of the accidents happened during the Street Vibrations celebration, with events happening in Carson City, Reno and Virginia City.
Sheriff Furlong said there was increased and heavy traffic enforcement in the areas around the city from Friday through Sunday in anticipation of people committing traffic violations.
UPDATE TUESDAY: Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong clarified his comment to Carson Now and added “These accidents on the stretch of road have historically appeared to be speed related or intoxication.” Carson Now has changed the quote to reflect the sheriff’s clarifying statement. Both crashes remain under investigation.
