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Dirt bike rider killed in North Philly crash

An 18-year-old man riding a dirt bike on a North Philadelphia street Thursday afternoon died after he tried to overtake a box truck, lost control of his bike and crashed. The accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on the 3800 block of Whitaker Avenue. Police said the unidentified man was riding a 2001 Yahama south on Whitaker when he lost control of his bike, and slid underneath the truck.

File photo.
File photo.Read moreJessica Griffin/Staff Photographer

An 18-year-old man riding a dirt bike on a North Philadelphia street Thursday afternoon died after he tried to overtake a box truck, lost control of his bike and crashed, police said.

The accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on the 3800 block of Whitaker Avenue. Police said the unidentified man was riding a 2001 Yahama south on Whitaker when he lost control of his bike, and slid underneath the truck. He apparently tried to squeeze between the truck and some parked cars when the dirt bike bounced off two parked cars before getting caught underneath the rear passenger tire of the truck.

Medics took the man to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m.

The 31-year-old male driver of the truck remained at the scene, which is near the station that houses the 24th and 25th Police Districts.

It is illegal to ride dirt bikes on city streets.