A high-speed motorcycle chase in El Paso, Texas, came to a dramatic end when the rider lost control and crashed—only to be tackled by a police officer moments later.
The El Paso Police Department released body-camera footage showing the July 16 pursuit, which began near Zaragoza Road and Interstate 10 East.
According to police, an officer on a motorcycle attempted to stop the rider after seeing him traveling at a high rate of speed. Instead of pulling over, the motorcyclist took off.
The video shows the rider weaving through traffic as officers pursued him.
Then things went bad.
The motorcycle rider eventually lost control and crashed.
From Motorcycle Chase to Police Takedown
After the crash, an officer quickly approached the downed rider.
Body-camera footage shows the officer ordering the motorcyclist to get on the ground before tackling him. Additional officers arrived moments later and placed the rider in handcuffs. (KVIA)
Police later identified the rider as Isaiah Nathaniel Coronado.
According to EPPD, Coronado is facing a charge of Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle. (KVIA)
The department used the video as a warning to motorists, urging people not to turn what could begin as a relatively minor traffic violation into a felony.
A Hard Lesson for Riders
For motorcycle riders, the video is a familiar reminder of how quickly speed and poor decisions can change everything.
A motorcycle can accelerate away from police remarkably quickly, but that doesn’t mean the rider can safely escape. Traffic, road conditions, other vehicles and the motorcycle itself can all become factors in a matter of seconds.
Once the rider loses control, the advantages of being on a motorcycle disappear quickly.
There’s also another lesson here: running from police on a motorcycle doesn’t just put the rider at risk.
Every car, pedestrian and other motorcyclist encountered during a high-speed pursuit can potentially become an innocent victim.
Whatever the original reason for the attempted traffic stop, the decision to run dramatically increased the danger.
For riders, the takeaway is simple: if the police want you to pull over, pull over.
A traffic ticket can be expensive.
A crash can change your life.
And trying to outrun the police can turn a bad day into a felony.