The motorcyclist who died at the scene was a man in his 20s and appeared to be a service member, according to investigators. NBC 7’s Jeanette Quezada spoke to neighbors who heard the loud crash.
Military officials on Friday identified the sailor who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Imperial Beach on Thursday morning.
Deputies responded to reports of a pick-up truck that hit a motorcycle at 13th Street and Donax Avenue at around 8:30 a.m. The motorcyclist, who investigators said appeared to be a service member, died at the scene, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
The victim was 24-year-old Petty Officer Second Class Maximillian "Max" Herr, Brian O’Rourke, a spokesperson for the Navy Region Southwest, confirmed to NBC 7 on Friday.
Herr was assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 1, which is based in Imperial Beach, O’Rourke said.
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Neighbors NBC 7 spoke to said the driver of the pick-up truck stayed on scene.
Marlen Graneli was among the several neighbors who ran outside when she heard the loud crash.
“We see a lot of people coming towards there, and the guy is already lying down in the street, and then lying down, and then lots of people came and tried to revive him," she said.
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Graneli said the man was wearing a military uniform. A few hours after the accident, she says a group of service members stopped by to leave flowers, candles and two American flags.
"Around noon time, there's a lot of Navy people here, doing a prayer here right in front of my driveway," Graneli said.
She said this is not the first accident that's happened at this intersection.
"Ever since I got here since 2011, there's a lot of accidents right there in the corner, so I'm hoping they can put a four-way stop sign," Graneli said.
