Motorcyclist killed after brief police chase in Leimert Park

LEIMERT PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A motorcyclist who nearly hit an LAPD officer's patrol car while popping a wheelie was killed after crashing into an SUV in Leimert Park Thursday night while evading authorities, police said.

The high-speed chase began around 10:50 p.m. near Crenshaw Boulevard and 50th Street when police spotted a group of motorcyclists performing wheelies in the street.

Police say one of the motorcyclists nearly hit an LAPD officer's patrol car while performing a wheelie and then took off.

The suspect crashed into an SUV near Leimert and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards while traveling on the wrong side of the road at speeds of up to 80 mph, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV was not injured but visibly shaken from the crash.

The impact of the crash was so severe the suspect's motorcycle was broken into pieces.

The motorcyclist was not identified pending notification of next of kin.

The LAPD's Southwest Division is investigating this incident.