Motorcyclist Killed After High-Speed Chase

Amotorcyclist led police on a lengthy pursuit in Simi Valley at speeds up to 70 m.p.h. until he crashed into a chain-link fence on a dead-end street and died, Simi Valley police said Friday.

Kris Anthony James, 21, of Simi Valley died of head injuries at Simi Valley Adventist Hospital about an hour after the 5:50 p.m. crash Thursday at the west end of Fitzgerald Road.

James ran four red lights after police tried to pull him over for speeding, police said. Police gave up the chase when they lost sight of the motorcycle but sighted him again about 30 minutes later, weaving in and out of traffic, and renewed the pursuit.

Police said they lost sight of him again, but minutes later discovered his wrecked motorcycle next to the fence. James, who was not wearing a helmet, had a suspended automobile driver’s license and had been convicted of nine vehicle code violations since February, 1987. He was not licensed to drive a motorcycle, police said.