1 dead in northwest Las Vegas motorcycle crash

One man is dead after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash Thursday night in the northwest valley.

The crash was reported just before 11 p.m. Thursday in front of Hecklethorn Elementary School, 5150 Whispering Sands Drive, near Jones Boulevard and Grand Teton Drive, Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Greg Munson said.

The 32-year-old motorcycle rider from California was traveling westbound on Whispering Sands when his motorcycle struck a center median, according to Sgt. Robert Stauffer of Metro’s fatal crash investigation detail.

The man was thrown from the motorcycle, which traveled another 700 feet after the crash, police said.

Stauffer said it appears the man was driving “well above” the area’s 25 mph speed limit, and might have been racing or “speed riding” with other motorcyclists. The person who reported the crash only heard it happen, Stauffer said, and that person told police they heard other motorcycles in the area.

The man was wearing a helmet and several people stopped to help him, but he died at the scene, Stauffer said.

Police are investigating the crash and trying to locate anyone who might have been riding with the man before the crash.

The man’s death marks the 113th traffic fatality Metro has investigated this year.

The Clark County Coroner’s office will identify the person who died after next of kin is notified.

Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com. Follow @MaxMichor on Twitter.