Fatal Dirt Bike Crash Involving Police Cruiser Under Investigation

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas M. Quinn III

District Attorney

Press Release

August 3, 2016

An investigation into a fatal dirt bike crash that involved a Fall River Police cruiser is currentlyongoing in Fall River.

A preliminary investigation, which included statements made by civilian witnesses, indicates that today at around 1:30 a.m., three Fall River Police cruisers were responding to a call in the south end of the city. The cruisers were travelling westbound on Slade Street with their emergency light activated. As the second cruiser approached the intersection of Slade Street and Montaup Street, it slowed and then proceeded through the intersection.

As the cruiser drove through the intersection, a dirt bike being driven by a 19-year-old Fall River man travelling south on Montaup Street failed to stop at the intersection and struck the cruiser in the front passenger door area. The operator of the dirt bike, later identified as Rafael Cordeiro, was rushed from the scene to St. Anne’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:02 a.m.  

The dirt bike, a 2006 Yamaha YZ85, was unregistered and had no front headlamps.

The investigation into this incident remains active and ongoing at this time.

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576