Man dies in New Haven dirt bike crash

The scene at the corner of Bassett Street and Shelton Avenue Saturday. The scene at the corner of Bassett Street and Shelton Avenue Saturday. Photo: JULIEMAR ORTIZ — NEW HAVEN REGISTER Photo: JULIEMAR ORTIZ — NEW HAVEN REGISTER Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Man dies in New Haven dirt bike crash 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> Police said a man riding a dirt bike died Saturday after he collided with a car at the corner of Bassett Street and Shelton Avenue.

Police received a call at 4:36 p.m. after a white Nissan Maxima and green dirt bike crashed into each other.

Police said the victim is a black male, who died on the scene and was taken to the hospital. Police are waiting to notify next of kin before releasing more information about his identity.

Police said both the car and the dirt bike were driving on Shelton Avenue headed towards each other to the intersection at Basset Street.

“They both have the green light,” Lt. Sam Brown said. “The white car turns left, hits the bike.”

The cyclist was sent flying upon impact and landed near a parked pickup truck, about 15 feet away from where the vehicles collided.

Brown said he did not know how many people were in the white car but said the driver was “shaken up.”

Police accident reconstruction teams and investigative services were on the scene.

Residents in the area were all watching the crash scene from their front porches with sadness in their eyes. One resident, a man named Dwight, said he will never forget the events of the day.

“It’s a sad day for this neighborhood,” said Dwight, who declined to give his last name. “We heard a boom and everybody ran out. We saw a crowd around him and I was so shocked. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life.”