Second person dies from injuries in weekend motorcycle crash

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Thursday, June 3, 2010 | 9:36 a.m.

Updated Friday, June 4, 2010 | 1:59 p.m.

A fatal motorcycle crash Saturday in North Las Vegas has claimed a second victim.

North Las Vegas Police this morning said a woman riding on a motorcycle who had been hospitalized since the weekend crash has died as a result of her injuries. The Clark County Coroner's Office on Friday identified her as Demetria Gatlin, 36, of North Las Vegas.

The coroner on Tuesday identified the motorcycle's operator as 40-year-old Derek Trotter.

The crash occurred as the 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a 2009 Nissan Versa in front of the North Las Vegas Police Department’s main station at 12:37 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Lake Mead and Bruce Street, police said. Officers said an 83-year-old man driving the Nissan turned left on Bruce in front of the motorcycle.

Trotter was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner’s office said he died of blunt head and chest trauma.

North Las Vegas Police said in a statement this morning that Gatlin's headgear might have contributed to her injuries.

"A label inside the helmet she wore that day warns that it is a 'novelty' helmet and is not approved or recommended for use while riding any on or off-road motor vehicle. It did not meet federal safety standards or Nevada helmet requirements," police said. "The novelty helmet came off at initial impact leaving the woman’s head exposed when she impacted the pavement. She suffered critical head injuries, which might have been mitigated by the use of an approved helmet."

Drugs and alcohol don't appear to be factors in the crash, investigators have said.