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Motorcyclist on Borrowed Bike Killed After Crashing Into Car, Coworker Says

By Trevor Kapp | March 10, 2014 12:13pm | Updated on March 10, 2014 1:29pm
 Jorge Rios, 47, died after crashing his friend's motorcycle into a sedan in Greenpoint on Sunday, police said.
Motorcyclist Dies After Crashing Bike in Greenpoint
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GREENPOINT — A cabdriver who went out for a short lunchtime ride on a friend's motorcycle Sunday afternoon died after he lost control of the vehicle and ran into a car, police and coworkers said.

Jorge Rios, 47, plowed his friend's 2001 Suzuki motorcycle into the side of a Lexus sedan as he went for a ride on Manhattan Avenue, near Green Street, about 4:30 p.m., according to police and friends.

“He was here with me before the incident happened. He met up with some friends and took a little break to see how his friend’s bike feels,” said Edward Peralta, 26, who worked with Rios at Java Car Service in Greenpoint.

Just minutes later, Rios crashed into a 2007 Lexus, police said.

“A black car was crossing the street and, ‘Boom!’ said witness Martin Caulfield, 61. “The bike fell over, and he fell over with such force that he slammed his head into the pavement.”

“You could see his lungs were moving up and down, but he was roughed up,” Caulfield added.

Rios was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, but couldn’t be saved.

Police and Caulfield said the Lexus’ 71-year-old driver remained on scene and was clearly shaken up.

“He was in shock,” Caulfield said. “He was totally out of it.”

Edward Peralta, 26, who also works at Java Car Service, said he was with Rios before the crash.

“He was here with me before the incident happened. He met up with some friends and took a little break to see how his friend’s bike feels,” said Peralta, who went outside just a few minutes later and saw people running toward the street corner.

“I seen the motorcycle on the floor,” he said. “He was on the corner. He wasn’t moving. There was a lot of blood. He didn't have a helmet.”

There did not appear to be any criminality, police said.

Peralta said Rios had been working at Java for about seven years and was extremely dedicated to the job.

“He woke up at 5 in the morning to come to work,” he said. “He was a very good man."

"Motorcycles were his hobby," Peralta added. "He had years of experience riding. Unfortunately, we lost him."