UPDATED: Friday, 10:11 a.m.
The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office has identified Chase Roberts, 20, of Ark City, as the man killed in a motorcycle accident Thursday night just north of Ark City on U.S. 77 at the bypass.
At approximately 8:09 p.m. Thursday, deputies from the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, Ark City Police Department and Ark City Fire/EMS responded to the 26000 block of U.S. 77 Hwy for the report of an injury accident involving a passenger car and motorcycle.
The investigation revealed that Daniel Garcia, 41, also of Ark City, was the driver of a white 2003 Lexus LS. Roberts was the rider of a 2023 Kawasaki Z H2.
According to Kawasaki, that model is powered by a nearly 200-horsepower supercharged 4-cylinder engine with a top speed rated at 240 mph.
Based on several witness statements, the sheriff’s department said the Lexus was stopped at the stop sign located at the intersection of U.S. 77 and the bypass. The Lexus was crossing the north bound lanes to turn south (left) toward N. Summit to Ark City.
The motorcycle was traveling north from N. Summit/U.S. 77 in the right lane, conducted a lane change into the left lane and began to accelerate rapidly.
Witnesses estimated that the motorcycle was traveling approximately 70 mph to 100 mph in a 55-mph zone.
The motorcycle struck the Lexus with the Lexus coming to rest in the northeast corner of the crossover while the motorcycle came to rest in the left turn lane of the south bound lanes. The driver of the motorcycle was ejected from the vehicle, and it became fully engulfed.
Roberts was declared deceased at the scene by Ark City Fire/EMS.
From Thursday night:
An Ark City man was killed in a car vs motorcycle accident Thursday night north of Ark City.
Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti told Cowley Post the adult male was declared dead at the scene.
The identity of the man has not been released.
Falletti said an investigation into the accident is underway, however preliminary information indicates the man was northbound on U.S. 77 and a passenger car turned southbound on the highway from the bypass when the accident occurred.
More information is expected to be released Friday.
