KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | 'When the motorcycle exploded he caught fire,' said FPD Chief

'When the motorcycle exploded he caught fire,' said FPD Chief

By Norma Yuriar

A Fresno motorcycle officer is severely burned when his bike slams into the side of a car.  Officer Mike Roberts now faces a long and painful recovery.

He remains at Community Regional Medical Center with second and third degree burns on the side of his body.

His motorcycle burst into flames during an accident Thursday night.  Investigators say he collided with a woman turning left on Fruit.  The officer was heading west on Bullard.

The Fresno Police Department's Collision and Reconstruction Unit is investigating two things:  who caused the accident and why did the motorcycle immediately explode.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said a smoldering, mangled mess is all that remains of Roberts' bike.

"He had a significant amount of gasoline on him and no doubt that when the motorcycle exploded he caught fire," Dyer said.

The 12–year veteran is badly burned.

"He has fractured ribs, compound fracture to his right elbow, bruised lung, a concussion, as well as second and third degree burns to the right side of his body," he said.

Officer Roberts was riding a BMW motorcycle, highly rated on safety tests, yet the question remains why did it burst into flames?  Chief said the lead investigator has never seen that happen before.

"He is trying to figure out what prompted that? Why that immediate explosion," Dyer said.

Officer Roberts was responding to a non–emergency call in northwest Fresno when he crashed into a Mercury Cougar.

The woman, in her 20's driving the car made a left turn in front of the approaching motorcycle.  A family member tells KMPH News the driver didn't see the officer coming.  She is recovering from minor burns and cuts.

"I live around the corner and we are always hearing, cars slamming and banging and smashing, it's always this corner, it needs a designated light, there is no arrow and it's really difficult when you are coming across Fruit to see the oncoming traffic," nearby resident Eliza Parson said.

Fruit and Bullard is number eleven on the city's priority list, according to Dyer.

As for who caused the accident?  That is still under investigation.  But Chief Dyer believes that the same motorcycle that burst into a fireball is also the reason why Officer Roberts is alive today.

"The motorcycle did exactly what we purchased those motorcycles to do," he said.  "It does not allow the officer to absorb the impact, it propels them over the vehicle which they strike and that's probably what saved his life."

Officer Roberts stay at CRMS's Burn Unit will be prolonged as a result of his burns, Dyer said.  The 42–year old has already had one operation to fix his elbow.  Other surgeries include skin grafts.

REPORTER CAN BE REACHED AT NYURIAR@KMPH.COM OR (559) 453-8850.