One person was killed and three others received lifethreatening injuries in motorcycle crashes Tuesday night.
Judd Ekelman, 21, of Chandler, was pronounced dead at a hospital after he lost control of his motorcycle about 6 p.m. and hit an unoccupied pickup in the 1700 block of West Commonwealth Avenue, police said.
He was not wearing a helmet.
At 8:30 p.m., two motorcyclists riding side by side hit a Chrysler PT Cruiser at Harrison and Oak streets in Gilbert.
One of the motorcyclists’ legs was partially severed, officials said. The car’s driver had severe head injuries when one of the motorcyclists went through the driver’s window. No names were released. A 33-year-old man who lives in the neighborhood was riding a Harley-Davidson. A 22-year-old man from out of state was riding a Honda. They were westbound on Harrison when the PT Cruiser, driven by a 44-year-old woman also from the neighborhood, turned east from Oak in front of them, said Gilbert police Cmdr. Tim Dorn.
The motorcyclist with the partially severed leg was flown to Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, said Gilbert fire Capt. Robert Foster.
The other motorcyclist was flown to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn hospital.
The driver of the car was taken to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.
The motorcyclists were not wearing helmets.
