2 Dead In High-Speed Motorcycle Crash
Passenger Would Have Celebrated Her 20th Birthday Friday
Police Believe Alcohol Was Involved

Nefertiti Jáquez
Reporting

(CBS4) MIAMI BEACH A motorcyclist and his young passenger, set to celebrate her 20th birthday Friday, were killed early Friday morning when the driver apparently lost control of his souped-up bike while trying to escape from a police officer who wanted to stop him for speeding. Police say the motorcyclist apparently had been drinking.

The deadly accident happened about 2 a.m. Friday, when a Miami-Beach police officer spotted what police say was a speeding motorcycle northbound on Meridian Avenue. When the officer tried to stop the driver, police say, the cyclist took off, hitting speeds of more than 100 mph Miami Beach police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said.

The attempt to elude police ended quickly and tragically, when the driver apparently lost control of the motorcycle just 6 blocks away and hit a car at the intersection of 10th Street and Meridian.

The 21 year old driver of the cycle, whose name has not been released, was killed instantly when he was thrown from the bike by the accident. His passenger, a 19-year-old woman who would have celebrated her birthday Friday, was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center. She died of her injuries a short time later. Both the cyclist and his passenger were wearing helmets, police said. [So What?!?]

Police say evidence at the scene of the crash indicated the driver had been drinking, "signs we found on the scene led us to believe there was drinking involved,'' Hernandez said. His license had already been restricted by a previous DUI offense, which allowed him to travel only to and from work.

The motorcycle, a Suzuki Hyabusa, had been modified to use nitrous oxide, a fuel additive known to increase speed in cars and motorcycles.

The driver of the car hit by the cycle was not seriously injured.