Motorcyclist: Whittier Blvd. crash not caused by wheelie

WHITTIER — A motorcyclist who crashed on Whittier Boulevard Friday denies he was performing a stunt when he crashed, as alleged by police.
Ruben Alvarez, 43, said he was not trying to pop a wheelie when his motorcycle crashed on Whittier Boulevard at Painter Avenue about 7:15 a.m. Friday, as he was on his way home after a graveyard shift at work.
“I was having bike problems, and the bike accelerated, which threw me off,” he said. 
In a written statement issued the day after the crash, Whittier police said the investigation indicated a failed wheelie appeared to have caused the crash.
Traffic officers had yet to determined whether they would cite the motorcyclist for reckless driving or another similar traffic violation.
Because of the way the crash occurred, Alvarez said he could understand why witnesses may have thought he was performing a wheelie.
“As soon as I let the clutch go, I was up in the air,” he said. “so to anybody who saw the bike up in the air, it may have looked like a wheelie.”
But he said he would never attempt such a dangerous maneuver.
“I’m 43. I’ve got kids at home to get to.”
Though flown to an area hospital as a precaution, Alvarez added that his injuries were not as serious as officials initially feared.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email