LONG BEACH – A man riding a “mini motorcycle” was killed in a collision with a big rig in Long Beach, police said Thursday.
Officers were sent to West Anaheim Street and Hayes Avenue about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
“Upon arrival, officers located a tractor-trailer and a mini motorcycle stopped in the northbound lane of Hayes Avenue, north of West Anaheim Street,” police said in a statement. “The driver of the mini motorcycle was located lying in the roadway.”
Nicholas Kusmich, 50, of Long Beach died at the scene, police said.
“The preliminary investigation revealed a 2020 Kenworth tractor- trailer carrying a shipping container was traveling eastbound on Anaheim Street and made a left turn onto Hayes Avenue to travel northbound,” police said.
“The driver of the mini motorcycle was traveling westbound along the north curb of Anaheim Street and collided into the passenger side of the tractor-trailer as the tractor-trailer was turning,” police said. The driver of the tractor-trailer remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation.
“At this time, distracted driving is being investigated as a potential factor in the collision,” police said. “Speed and driving under the influence are not believed to be factors in this collision.”
Anyone with information on the crash was urged to call LBPD Detective Efrain Pineda at 562-570-7355, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website LACrimeStoppers.org.
