News Flash

A motorcyclist who died in an accident in south Roswell Sept. 11 was traveling about 180 mph or more when the accident occurred, the Roswell Police Department’s investigation has determined. Investigators also believe the motorcycle may have been racing with two cars. The public’s help is being sought in providing information that could help locate those cars or offer any other details about the accident.

Michael R. Torrez, 20, of Roswell, died at the scene of the accident on South Main Street. He was wearing a helmet, but suffered extensive injuries when he came off the motorcycle during the accident and his body struck a light pole in the median. The investigation found the 2000 Honda motorcycle Torrez was driving south went from the street onto the median and struck bushes. At that point, the investigation found, Torrez separated from the motorcycle, either involuntarily or voluntarily. The unmanned motorcycle continued to roll and topple almost 400 yards farther south, first in the median and then crossing the southbound lanes of South Main and continuing south in the west-side shoulder of the street.

Evidence at the scene of the accident, which occurred about 7:40 p.m., allowed the investigation to estimate the motorcycle was traveling at least 179 mph at the time of the accident, which began at the South Main intersection with Burkett Street. That section of South Main has a posted speed limit of 50 mph.

While speed was a very significant factor in the accident, any other potential factors that may have contributed to causing Torrez to lose control of the motorcycle remain under investigation. People in the area whom investigators spoke to did not see the accident the moment it occurred, but some people believed two cars may have been racing with the motorcycle just before the accident. Descriptions of the cars – which investigators believe left the scene following the motorcycle wreck – are very limited and investigators are asking anyone who may have seen these cars to call RPD. Witnesses could only recall that one car may have been white and the other may have been red with a black stripe or black with a red stripe.

Anyone who witnessed this accident or may have information regarding the two cars believed to have been racing with the motorcycle is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at (575) 624-6770 or Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-594-TIPS(8477).