FALL RIVER, MASS. (WHDH) - A 19-year-old riding a dirt bike in Fall River was killed early Wednesday morning when police said he crashed into a police cruiser.
Police said Rafael Cordeiro was operating his dirt bike without headlights on when the collision happened. A second dirt bike was with Cordeiro and fled the scene after the crash. Cordeiro was seriously injured and taken to St. Anne’s Hospital, where he died a short time later.
“He was a good kid and loved to ride, just wanted to be on his bike,” said a friend of Cordeiro.
Police said they were responding to a 911 call in the area at the time of the crash. The two officers in the cruiser were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Both were treated and released.
Officials said the officer did not see Cordeiro because his headlights were not on. Cordeiro’s friends said they find it hard to believe that Cordeiro would be out riding without lights on or would not stop if he saw a police car.
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