A young man was killed Sunday evening when a motorcycle ride out with friends ended in tragedy. Daniel Thy, 22, was driving his 2007 Yamaha RS westbound down Del Amo Blvd. at around 6:50PM when he lost control, struck the curb and then a tree. He was riding along with four other motorcyclists friends at the time and tried to pass the group on the right at a high rate of speed when he lost control.

Police say that the accident caused an explosion on impact causing the tree, motorcycle and driver to catch fire. Thy’s friends stopped and attempted to rescue the victim from the fire until Long Beach Fire Department arrived. LBFD extinguished the fire, but the driver died at the scene. 

Just earlier in the day, Thy had posted on his Facebook page about “literally almost dying” on his motorcycle, saying was “going to highside while merging onto freeway.” Highside is a term for a type of accident which results from a loss of traction by the rear wheel followed by recovery of traction. “The road was bumpy and cars were going 80+mph,” he wrote at 4:41PM.

According to police, the victim had recently bought the motorcycle and did not have a valid motorcycle drivers license.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Collision Investigations Detective Brian Watt at (562) 570-7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

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