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Motorcyclist Describes Viral Las Vegas Crash With Lifted Truck, Calls for Front Cameras
Justin Ford walked away with only minor back pain after a lifted truck rolled over the back of his motorcycle at Paradise and Sahara, and he says large vehicles need front-facing cameras to prevent similar collisions.
A Las Vegas motorcyclist whose collision with a lifted truck was captured on video and spread widely online is speaking out about the crash, saying he escaped serious injury but lost his bike â and arguing that oversized trucks need better forward visibility.
Justin Ford, a Las Vegas resident and lifelong rider, said the collision happened earlier this week at the intersection of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue as he was leaving a car show. He told reporters he was left with only minimal back pain, but his motorcycle was totaled.
Witness video shows the truck rolling forward into the motorcycle after the bike moved in front of it. Ford said he had stopped inside the crosswalk to put more space between himself and the truck ahead of him.
"Then the side view shows how he never really stopped completely and just kind of rolled and rolled, you know, onto the back of the bike," Ford said.
The truck's front axle passed over the motorcycle's rear fender, according to Ford.
"It was a little surprising at first because when it hit, it kind of pushed us down because the truck's so big," he said. "I knew the truck was there, but to see it so close and still rolling, it was kind of scary, you know?"
Ford pushed back on some of the online commentary dissecting the crash, explaining that traffic was moving slowly and the light was turning yellow when he pulled in front of the truck. He said stopping in the crosswalk was a deliberate choice to leave himself more room.
As the video circulated, some commenters suggested the truck should be equipped with cameras to improve visibility. Ford agreed.
"With no clear sight in front, there really should, with the technology we have nowadays, there should be something that you can see in front," he said.
Ford, who said he has been riding his entire life, is already shopping for a replacement motorcycle.
The crash highlights a persistent safety concern on Las Vegas Valley roads: the growing presence of lifted and modified trucks, whose elevated hoods can create large blind spots directly in front of the vehicle. For cyclists and motorcyclists who share busy arterials like Sahara with heavy traffic, those blind zones can be the difference between a close call and a serious injury.
It was not immediately clear whether police cited the truck's driver or whether the collision remains under investigation.