Wednesday Apr 30

Cyclist attempts wheelie, is killed

East Palo Alto man dies after hitting back of truck

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

A 24-year-old East Palo Alto man was killed Monday night after losing control of his motorcycle and slamming into the back of a pickup truck.

Carlos Serrato Suastes was riding northbound on Cypress Street in East Palo Alto around 9:45 p.m. when he was separated from his bike after attempting a wheelie, witnesses told police. Based on skid and scrape marks, police said the motorcycle likely slid on its side for a long distance, while Suastes was thrown into the tailgate and bumper of a black GMC Sierra truck.

Although he was wearing a helmet, Suastes was pronounced dead by emergency personnel on the scene, Sgt. Rahn Sibley said.

"He lost control of his bike," Sibley said. "It's just a tragic accident."

The exact cause of death and blood tests are still pending, a spokesman for the San Mateo County Coroner's Office said.

Cypress Street is only one block and runs between Pulgas Avenue and the Baylands Nature Preserve. When cars are parked on both sides, the street is barely wide enough for two medium-size cars to pass.

At 1175 Cypress, where the accident happened, people had set out 22 candles in front of a small shrine. Sibley said Suastes was visiting friends and relatives on the street, some of whom slowly drove by the memorial Tuesday afternoon. They all declined to comment and referred the Daily News to the immediate family. They could not be reached for comment.



E-mail Banks Albach at balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.