7-year-old boy killed in motorcycle accident identified

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Wednesday, May 5, 2010 | 9:18 p.m.

Updated Thursday, May 6, 2010 | 11:36 a.m.

A 7-year-old boy riding on a motorcycle with his father was killed Wednesday when the bike collided with a car, ejecting the child, North Las Vegas Police said. He was identified Thursday as Victor Camacho of North Las Vegas.

The boy’s 8-year-old brother, who was also on the motorcycle, was injured but didn’t appear to be seriously hurt, police said.

The 31-year-old father of the boys was not injured, police Sgt. Tim Bedwell said.

The motorcycle was headed north about 6:40 p.m. in the 6100 block of Dawn View Lane when a car parked along the right curb pulled out and started to make a U-turn, Bedwell said. The motorcycle ran into the car, he said.

The 7-year-old boy on the back of the Yamaha street motorcycle was thrown over the car and landed about 22 feet from the collision, police said.

“It appears the car didn’t yield to the motorcycle,” Bedwell said. The crash, which occurred about a block from the motorcyclist’s home, is under investigation, he said.

The speed limit on the residential street is 25 mph, Bedwell said.

“This is truly a tragedy, made even worse by the fact that it didn’t have to happen,” Bedwell said.

It is illegal to have more than one passenger on a motorcycle, Bedwell said. The boy who was killed was riding behind his father and the other child was in front of the man, Bedwell said.

It is also illegal for any passenger to ride in front of the operator, Bedwell said.

Camacho was wearing a helmet, but it was not an approved motorcycle helmet and was not fitted for a child, he said.

The helmet apparently flew off during the collision, leaving the boy's head unprotected, police said. “A helmet very possibly could have been the difference here,” Bedwell said.

The second child, who was taken to University Medical Center, suffered facial abrasions, but he was alert and walking around, Bedwell said.

Police were not immediately releasing the names of anyone involved in the crash. The driver of the car was a 19-year-old woman, police said. No charges had been filed, pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.

Bedwell said the woman and motorcycle driver both consented to alcohol and blood tests. He said no charges will be filed until detectives receive the test results.