Two hurt in motorcycle crash following police chase

UPDATE: Two people were hurt when a motorcycle crashed during a police chase Thursday morning in southeast Cedar Rapids.

Several officers responded to the crash, which happened around 8:50 a.m. on McCarthy Road SE at 25th Street SE. Police said the motorcyclist had been going faster than 80 mph earlier in the chase, but after rounding a curve, lost control and struck a roadside telephone box.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said the male driver and a female passenger were thrown off the bike. She said the woman was conscious and responsive, while the man was conscious, but not communicating well. Both were taken to St. Luke's Hospital.

Their names were not immediately released.

“His injuries seem to be a little more serious than hers,” Hamblin said. “Both of them are very fortunate, at this point.”

According to police, an officer doing traffic enforcement saw one of two motorcyclists traveling together pop a wheelie at the corner of J Street and 16th Avenue SW. The officer followed the motorcycle and saw the driver pop another wheelie at C Street and 12th Avenue SW. The officer activated his emergency lights, and the motorcycle sped off.

“They were going 70 mph over the 12th Avenue bridge, with the red lights going behind them,” Hamblin said.

The other motorcyclist noticed police and stopped, but the other motorcycle would not pull over, Hamblin said. The chase continued east on 12th Avenue SE, past Metro High School and then east onto McCarthy Road SE.

Hamblin said investigators believe the motorcyclist lost control as he was coming out of a curve and down a hill due to a combination of speed and pea gravel on the road. Neither person on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet. Motorcyclists in Iowa are not required by law to wear helmets.

Reconstructionists responded to the crash, along with investigators who were taking photographs and marking evidence with spray paint. A pile of plastic and other debris was about 20 yards from the wrecked bike.

Hamblin said several charges were pending in the case.

McCarthy Road SE was blocked from Van Vechten Park to 26th Street SE. Police expected the closure to last until at least noon.

[mqMap key="ORx2" width="485" height="420" src="http://www.mapquest.com/embed?icid=mqdist_mb_wp&c=ORx2&maptype=map&zm=14&cr=41.96976,-91.63252&projection=sm&showScale=false"]My New Map[/mqMap]