A teenage motorcyclist died in Fairbanks over the weekend after colliding with a man on a bicycle who was crossing the road illegally, according to Fairbanks Police Department.
The incident happened at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Steese Expressway shortly after midnight on Sunday, according to a department press release. The department says evidence and witness statements indicate 19-year-old Aiden Cowles, the motorcyclist, was following road rules correctly and was wearing protective gear at the time.
Cowles was traveling southbound on the Steese when he collided with the bicyclist, who was going eastbound, according to police. The collision caused Cowles to lose control of his motorcycle and crash. He was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee said by phone that Cowles’ death was a tragic and preventable situation.
“All the information that we have is that he was obeying all the laws. He had all the safety equipment, and somebody on a bicycle decides to enter the intersection illegally and cross where they shouldn’t be crossing, and ultimately causes this 19-year-old’s death,” Dupee said. “He had a lot of life left to live. He was 19 years old.”
The case is being investigated as a homicide, according to Dupee, who said the bicyclist was crossing a section of road with no crosswalk – and on a red light. Fairbanks police say he left the scene before officers arrived.
As of Monday evening, investigators were still trying to identify and locate the bicyclist. Police released blurry images and a description of him, saying he’s an Alaska Native man in his 30s, about 5 feet and 10 inches tall and 230 pounds, with short hair and a darker complexion.