A motorcycle accident that claimed the life of a Toronto man was the result of a daredevil motorcycle stunt gone wrong, police say.
Elvis Rojas, 31, died Sunday evening while performing wheelies on the Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto, police said.
Around 7:30 p.m., Rojas and another motorcyclist entered the westbound lane of the Gardiner from Spadina Avenue.
As Rojas reached the top of the ramp, he accelerated, then performed a few wheelies.
"The final time he attempted the wheelie, the bike actually went up and over, and came back over on top of him," said Toronto police Det. Wally Watts.
He cautioned that motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable when driving on highways.
"Any time you get highway speeds on a motorcycle, it's deadly, and when you up the ante by increasing it to probably double the speed limit and something does happen, you have no protection as a motorcycle driver at all," said Watts.
He discounted earlier reports that the death was the result of street racing.
Police say when Rojas's friend, a 24-year-old Indianapolis man, realized he was dead, the man persuaded a passing motorist to take him to Rojas's home to break the news to his family.
Members of Rojas's family and the friend then went to police.
Watts said the Indianapolis man did not have a motorcycle licence and will likely face charges.
