Motorcyclist Dies in High-Speed Pursuit Crash in Orange County

Officers found the motorcyclist at the intersection of North Batavia Street and West Katella Avenue

A motorcyclist died after crashing during a high speed pursuit that ended in the city of Orange early Friday.

Officers found the motorcyclist at the intersection of North Batavia Street and West Katella Avenue, an Orange police spokesman said.

The man had earlier refused to pull over for speeding on the 55 Freeway, and managed to briefly outrun a CHP cruiser, with the chase at time reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. They lost sight of the motorcycle after it left the freeway.

"The biggest challenge is not having any witnesses to tell us what happened," Orange Police Lt. Fred Lopez said.

Officers got a call of a motorcyclist being down, and he died at the scene.

"The motorcycle was wrapped around the pole," said Bob Drobish, who drove by around the same time paramedics arrived. "The gentleman was lying on the sidewalk in front of it."

It was not clear why the man initiated the pursuit.

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