RIVERSIDE: Motorcyclist, 62, killed when SUV attempts U-Turn in front of him

RIVERSIDE — A motorcyclist died after smashing into an SUV that attempted to make a U-Turn in front of him, Wednesday, Dec. 27. The fatal accident happened on the 4800 block of Chicago Avenue in Riverside.

City of Riverside Police and Fire personnel and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the deadly wreck at 5:33 p.m., after several people called 911 to report the accident.

When they arrived, officials found a wrecked motorcycle and SUV, as well as a downed motorcyclist nearby.

Paramedics determined the motorcycle rider had sustained major, traumatic injuries. In spite of life-saving efforts, the rider succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials later identified Edward Cellucci, 62, of Riverside, as the man killed in the collision. According to a coroner’s release, Cellucci was pronounced dead about twenty minutes after the crash, at 5:55 p.m.

The driver of the SUV was transported to a local hospital and was treated for minor injuries, according to officials.

Based on the circumstances, members of Riverside PD’s Major Accident Investigation Team were summoned to the scene and assumed the collision investigation.

During their investigation, MAIT members determined the accident happened when the driver of a black Infinity SUV attempted to make a U-Turn when the vehicle collided with Cellucci’s motorcycle.

While officials investigated the collision, officers called for the temporary closure of both directions of travel on Chicago Avenue, between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Le Conte Drive. Officials re-opend the roadway several hours later after the conclusion of their initial investigation.

Their investigation into the accident is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation or who witnessed the collision is urged to contact Riverside Police Detective B. Jones at (951) 826-8722. Callers can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.