Motorcyclist hit, killed by driver going 140 mph, authorities say

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A motorcyclist in Arizona was hit and killed early Sunday by a driver speeding at 140 mph, according to officials with the Department of Safety.

Troopers said the deadly crash happened on I-10 in Phoenix around 1:30 a.m.

According to authorities, 22-year-old Andrew Ramirez Perez kept speeding for another mile before the car caught fire.

Arrest records detailed that a trooper saw Perez speeding past him before seeing a “cloud of smoke and a ball of fire” in the HOV lane.

The motorcyclist, 42-year-old Craig Cooper, was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Detectives uncovered an empty “Buzzball,” a mixed cocktail drink, that was empty.

Perez was taken into custody and was questioned about the crash. When asked what happened, he said that he had been “driving on the highway when he hit something,” but “did not know what he hit but that he spotted right away.”

Investigators asked Perez if he had hit a motorcycle, to which he stated “no,” and said that he was at home working out and boxing in his home gym before driving out.

When asked how fast he thought he was driving, he said “between 70 mph and 75 mph,” and denied drinking.

Court records state, however, that Perez had BAC levels of .141 and .145, almost double the legal limit, at the time of the breath test.

Officials said Perez is facing one count of second-degree murder in connection to the crash. He is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

Cooper’s family has organized a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses, as well as to support his family moving forward.

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