Freeway Crash Kills Motorcyclist

A 29-year-old man was killed Thursday when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a vehicle that moved into his lane.

James R. Chappell, of Crescent City, died at 8:33 a.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

The crash was reported at 6:55 a.m. on the westbound Interstate 210 in La Verne. Authorities said Chappell was riding a 2002 Honda motorcycle in the carpool lane at the time of the crash.

Demetrio Hechanova, 58, of Claremont was just ahead of Chappell in a 2010 Ford E-350 Van. Investigators said the elder man had been in the fast lane but crossed the double yellow lines and merged into the carpool lane when he encountered slowing traffic.

His lane change forced Chappell to brake hard but it was too late, investigators said.

Chapell struck the back of the van, flew off the bike and onto the roadway, CHP officials said. Los Angeles County Fire crews and CHP officers tried to restrain Chappell so he could be flown to a hospital but his injuries caused him to become combative, officials said.

Instead, he was taken by ambulance to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton where he died.

An investigation into the crash was ongoing, CHP officials said.