A warm summer evening turned into an absolute nightmare for a local family this week. A young guy with his whole life ahead of him lost everything in a split second. The shockwave of grief is hitting the community incredibly hard right now.
The intersection of 31st Street and Riverside Drive is usually a pretty busy spot. People love to cruise around there when the weather gets nice. But on Monday night, just past 7:00 p.m., the casual vibe completely shattered.
Twenty-year-old Caleb Lopez was out riding his motorcycle with a couple of his close buddies. They were heading northbound on Riverside, just enjoying the breeze. At the exact same time, an SUV was coming down the opposite lane.
The driver of the Nissan Pathfinder went to make a left turn onto 31st Street. In that quick instant, their paths crossed with terrifying force. Security cameras nearby caught the entire heart-stopping moment unfold.
Caleb’s bike slammed directly into the passenger side of the turning vehicle. The impact was incredibly violent and heavy. Even though Caleb was wearing his helmet, there was nothing anyone could do to save him.
First responders rushed to the scene but pronounced him dead right then and there. The driver of the SUV walked away with just a few minor scratches. Meanwhile, the chaotic aftermath for the other riders started unfolding immediately.
Officers found a real mess when they looked at the rest of the riding group. One buddy was allegedly riding drunk, and the other didn’t even have a registered bike. But for the people who loved Caleb, none of those details matter compared to the massive hole left in their lives.
