HARTFORD, Conn. — A man is dead after a dirt bike crash in Hartford on Wednesday night.
Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said a call came in at 8:30 p.m. alerting police to the crash on Windsor St. at Loomis St. Two dirt bikes were going south on Windsor Street and a Honda Crosstour was going north, according to police. The Honda turned in front of the two dirt bikes and hit one of the bikes.
The victim was pronounced dead on the scene, police said. He has been identified as David Hicks, 31, of East Hartford.
The Honda evaded the scene, and police later found it unoccupied in the south end of the city.
Police later determined that the dirt bike Hicks was driving was unregistered and was listed as stolen.
Investigators are now working on digital evidence of the crash.
Hartford police have already seized 57 dirt bikes off of the roads and have made nearly 50 arrests for illegally operating ATVs.
"This tragic outcome highlights the dangers of operating these off-road bikes and ATVs on the road. They are not designed for the street and create a hazardous condition for everyone that travels on our roads," Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody said in a statement. "Many of those arrested are not from Hartford and those that think about traveling (sic) here to illegally operate ATVs should be aware that they not only face arrest, but our ordinance allows us to seize and destroy ATVs that are illegally operated here in Hartford.”
"This is why our police take it seriously," said Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. "You cannot drive vehicles like this recklessly out on the roads. It’s dangerous to everybody around us."
Kyle Jay, the owner of Connecticut Scooter Pros in Vernon, says incidents like these give his business and law-abiding operators a bad reputation.
"The people that are already breaking the laws look at that as a green light where there’s no laws, there’s repercussion," said Jay.
Every time he sells an A-T-V or dirt bike to a customer, he says he goes over all safety protocols and Connecticut laws.
"The dirt bikes as you can see have headlights yes, for driving in your backyard or on a trail but they don’t have the blinkers. They don’t have any of the DOT required criteria," added Jay.
Anyone with information on this crash is asked to call the Hartford PD tip line at 860-722-8477.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.