LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — A 16-year-old boy was killed in a crash while riding his dirt bike Saturday night in Loxahatchee in Palm Beach County.
According to deputies, the teen was riding a Yamaha TT-R125 dirt bike eastbound on 60th Street North, west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road at about 8:15 p.m.
WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with the victim's friends, who were gathering at the scene. Although they did not want to be interviewed, they said the teen loved riding his bike.
The biker went to pass the vehicle in front of him through the westbound lane, driving directly into the path of a sedan driving westbound on 60th Street North. He was ejected and thrown onto the grass shoulder and pronounced dead at the hospital from injuries sustained during the collision.
A 16-year-old is dead following a crash yesterday night in Loxahatchee. Palm Beach County deputies say he was riding his trail bike, tried to pass the vehicle in front of him and was then involved in the head-on-wreck with another vehicle. pic.twitter.com/WWw0BnmMgh
— Zitlali Solache (@zitlalisolache) September 2, 2024
A biker near the area was surprised to learn about the crash.
"I think it’s very shocking because how we ride every day and that can happen to anyone — including if you’re wearing a helmet," rider Arley Martinez said. "Shocking that a kid my age died last night here.”
The driver of the car was not injured.
"Vehicles like this don’t have headlights," Martinez said. "They don't have turning signals. The car did not see him and you got to be careful. Just be careful."
According to the crash report, the 16-year-old was wearing a helmet and alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the incident.
