Police officers responded to the scene and found the 20-year-old man from Chico suffering from critical injuries and his motorcycle in pieces. The rider was hospitalized in critical condition.
Chico, CA – A 20-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after his motorcycle collided with a van Tuesday evening at an intersection in Chico.
According to the Chico Police Department, the accident was reported around 8 p.m. on September 8, 2026, at East 1st Avenue and Neal Dow Avenue.
Police officers responded to the scene and found the 20-year-old man from Chico suffering from critical injuries and his motorcycle in pieces. The rider was hospitalized in critical condition.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on E. 1st Avenue at a high rate of speed, approaching the intersection with Neal Dow Avenue.
At the same time, a 57-year-old Chico woman was driving a van westbound on the same street, also approaching the same intersection.
Police said both the van and the motorcycle had a green light, but vehicles making a left turn are required to yield to oncoming traffic that is close enough to constitute a hazard.
The van attempted to make a left turn onto Neal Dow Avenue and collided with the motorcycle.
The van was transporting several developmentally disabled youths home after a bowling event. The youths were shaken after the collision, but they were not injured.
A witness told authorities that the motorcyclist was going at a recklessly high rate of speed at he approached the intersection.
Police officers said the witness statements were consistent with physical evidence collected at the scene. Based on the preliminary findings, the officers reported that no charges are expected to be filed against the van driver due to the excessive and reckless speed of the motorcyclist.
The intersection was closed for about four hours while the officers worked the scene.
The crash is under investigation by CPD’s Major Accident Investigation Team.