Dirt Bike Riding Youths Terrorise Indoor Shopping Centre
Three youths have caused havoc in a California shopping mall, with one of the riders reported to have died later that night after a collision
Three youths have terrorised an indoor Mall in California this week, after they entered the packed Town Center Mall in Santa Clarita riding two off-road dirt bikes.
Adding a level of tragedy to the news are reports that one of the young riders is thought to have been killed shortly after the act, after he collided with a vehicle just miles from the mall.
The riders, all thought to be teens, were seen riding at speed through the shopping centre, which was busy with customers enjoying the New Year sales. Revving their engines and waving at onlookers, the three teens (two riders and one pillion) can also be seen riding through the food court of the mall, just a few feet from a table of youngsters who were enjoying some food.
Reports from the TV station KTLA state that food vendor, Chris Hernandez, claimed that mall security officers were slow to respond to the bikes, which should have been heard as they approached the location. “It was loud. I saw the motorcycles come up through the mall,” said Hernandez speaking to KTLA. “To me, it’s a big no-no because there’s little kids all over the place and somebody’s going to end up getting hurt.”
Sadly for the rider of the first bike in the video, the night did end in tragedy, as a family member reports that it was him who collided with another vehicle after riding on the wrong side of the road. The crash happened at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Oak Ridge Drive at about 9:49pm, just a short time after and only two miles from the incident at Town Center Mall.
While the police haven’t released the identity of the deceased, reports in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal state that the deceased’s aunt has identified him as the rider of the larger of the two bikes. The authorities have stated that a teen on a motorcycle collided with a van on Saturday evening, and despite fire and ambulance services responding, he passed away at 7:32am the following day.
The tragic news highlights the need for parents to be responsible when buying presents like dirtbikes for their children, and ensuring they are used safely and legally. The local Sheriff’s Office has had to increase patrols over Christmas to deal with increased nuisance bike riders which is thought to be connected to the festive period.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
