KPD Investigates a Fatal Motorcycle Crash

CORRECTION UPDATE – March 20, 2018

 The operator of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at approximately 12:52 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2800 block of Veterans Memorial Blvd. in reference to a 911 call about a crash involving a motorcycle.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a white male lying in the roadway.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a black Kawasaki Motorcycle was traveling over the speed limit eastbound in the outside lane of Veterans Memorial Blvd., when a red Ford Pickup truck entered the intersection turning westbound from Highland Avenue.  The operator of the motorcycle struck the front left quarter panel of the truck, causing the operator to be ejected off the motorcycle, landing in the roadway.  The operator of the motorcycle, 44 year-old Michael Thetford of Killeen, was airlifted to Baylor Scott & White Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on Sunday, March 18, 2018 by Justice of the Peace Donald Engleking at 11:18 a.m.  The operator of the motorcycle was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

This crash continues to be investigated by the Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit and information will be released as it becomes available

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department