Motorcyclist who died in crash is identified

A motorcycle rider who crashed and died last week on a North County freeway after allegedly fleeing a California Highway Patrol officer has been identified as 20year-old Oceanside resident Brandon Scott Hardesty.

The deadly crash happened about 1:15 Monday afternoon on Interstate 15 north of state Route 76, near Fallbrook, according to the CHP and the county Medical Examiner’s Office.

A Highway Patrol spokesman said Hardesty, riding a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle, was reported to be racing a Mazda sedan on north I-15 near Deer Springs Road before the crash.

Both vehicles were reportedly driving dangerously when a CHP officer attempted to stop them, Officer Juan Escobar said.

When the motorcyclist did not stop, the officer gave chase.

“The officer lost sight of the motorcycle as it accelerated and pulled away at high speed,” Escobar said in a news release.

Just north of SR-76, Hardesty’s motorcycle struck the back of a Toyota Camry, according to Escobar.

The motorcycle hit the guardrail, throwing Hardesty to the ground.

Hardesty died at an Escondido hospital.

A Gofundme page to help Hardesty’s parents with funeral costs said he “was loved by many” and “loved his family, friends, baseball, photography, fast cars, and of course his dog Sophie.”