Phoenix, AZ (June 2, 2026) – A 61-year-old man died on Monday morning, June 1, after his motorcycle and an SUV collided on 19th Avenue south of Bell Road in north Phoenix. The accident happened at approximately 9:50 a.m.
Darren Rama was riding a Honda VF750 southbound on 19th Avenue when a Hyundai Santa Fe turned left in front of him at Grandview Road: the motorcycle went down, and Rama was pinned under the SUV. Emergency units responded and freed him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The SUV driver remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment. No additional injuries were reported.
The wreck remains under review for potential charges, and further details will be released as the process moves forward. We extend our sincerest condolences to Darren Rama’s family and all those who cared for him.
What to Know About Left-Turn Motorcycle Fatalities in Arizona
Left-turn crashes are one of the leading causes of motorcycle fatalities across the country, and Arizona roads are no exception. When a driver turns left at an intersection, they must yield to oncoming traffic, including motorcycles. A failure to do so, even briefly, can bring a motorcycle directly into the path of a turning vehicle with very little time for either party to react.
In Phoenix, where wide arterial roads like 19th Avenue carry significant traffic, the speed differential between vehicles can make these moments especially dangerous. Motorcycles traveling at normal speeds on a straight road may be difficult to see clearly when a driver is scanning for a gap to turn. The size of the motorcycle compared to surrounding vehicles can make it harder to judge its distance and speed accurately.
When no impairment is found at the scene, cases like this are often reviewed to determine whether a traffic violation or negligence contributed to the outcome.
