Pontiac motorcyclist dies while fleeing police

Police say a motorcyclist fleeing an officer in Pontiac has died after striking a car at a high speed. 

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said a 36-year-old man driving a yellow 2004 Suzuki GSX600 was speeding southbound on North Cass Avenue at 6 p.m, when deputies noticed he didn't have a registered license plate. 

Police attempted to make a traffic stop, but the motorcyclist fled, turning west onto Elizabeth Lake Road and then on to North Telegraph, where the deputies lost sight of him. 

Another deputy noticed the motorcycle speeding on Telegraph and attempted a pursuit, police say. 

The motorcyclist passed through an intersection into the left-turning center lane and struck a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was waiting to turn left. The female driver of the Jeep, a West Bloomfield resident, saw the motorcyclist speeding up behind her and tried to veer into the right lane to avoid being hit. But, the motorcycle struck the driver's side door and ripped it from the vehicle, officials said. 

The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, police say. He was transported to McLaren-Oakland Hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The Jeep driver was not injured. 

The man, from Pontiac, did not have a motorcycle endorsement and his license was previously suspended. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. 

The crash is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. 

srahal@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @SarahRahal_