Pasadena Man Apparently Suffers Fatal Heart Attack, Triggers Weekend Freeway Wreck

A 43-year-old Pasadena man apparently suffered a fatal heart attack Saturday while driving his motorcycle, and rear-ended a CHP patrol SUV parked at a road closure on the Long Beach freeway in Vernon, causing a wreck on the freeway.

The officer in the patrol SUV rendered aid and with two other people pulled the man out from his burning motorcycle, and paramedics rushed him to the hospital after first aid, authorities said.

The man, identified by authorities as Leon Lyles, died shortly after arrival.

Leon Lyles was riding his Harley Davidson northbound on the Long Beach (710) Freeway at about 6:35 a.m. when he entered the closure of the number one and two lanes of the northbound freeway, south of Atlantic Boulevard, and struck the CHP vehicle, a 2013 Ford Explorer, which had its overhead emergency lights activated, the CHP said.

Caltrans had set up the closure, from Slauson Avenue to Bandini Boulevard, Friday night for repairs on the center barrier.

CHP said the officer got out of his vehicle and realized Lyles’ motorcycle had caught fire. At that time, Lyles was unresponsive, with his right leg pinned underneath his motorcycle.

The officers and two other people began medical aid until paramedics arrived. Lyle was then rushed to the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center under cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead on arrival, authorities reported.

Messages of sympathy from friends and acquaintances flooded Lyles’ Facebook page when news of his death came out.

Anyone with information about the crash is advised to call the CHP East Los Angeles office at (323) 980-4600.