Sunday June 27, 2010 11:03 PM

AMBRIDGE — A motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon after he apparently ran a red light while traveling north on Route 65 in Ambridge and struck a car that was turning at the intersection.

Police and emergency crews were called to the wreck at Fourth Street around 5:30 p.m. Sunday; Ambridge police Sgt. Jimmy Mann said the motorcyclist likely died when his sport bike struck the side of a car that was turning left from the southbound lanes of Route 65.

“Witnesses told us the motorcycle burst into flames upon impact,” Mann said. “The rider was thrown about 25 feet while the bike did a couple flips.”

Mann identified the cyclist as Timothy Wayne O’Brien, 50, of Hermitage, Mercer County.

Mann said three witnesses — including two who were headed north when the collision occurred — told police that the motorcyclist was riding at an excessive speed as he approached Ambridge from the south.

“One told me she was going about 45 when the motorcycle passed her like she was standing still,” Mann said. “The other was waiting at the light in the left lane — they said he changed lanes real quick to get around stopped vehicles and then ran the light.”

Mann said police were unable to check the motorcycle’s speedometer because it had melted in the fire. The bike’s license plate also had melted to the point that it was illegible.

Three people — two adults and their granddaughter — were in the sedan that the motorcycle struck. A man who wouldn’t give his name but identified himself as the son of the adults and the father of the girl said all three were shaken up but none appeared to suffer serious injury.

The car sustained major damage, though, to the passenger side door, windows and front side, and had to be towed from the intersection.

“The impact had to be hard to cause damage like that,” Mann said.

Beaver County Deputy Coroner Renea Esoldo said an autopsy on the motorcyclist would likely be conducted today; information about the cause of death won’t be available until that is complete, she said.

Michael Pound can be reached online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Webmasters Notes: Baden VFD responded at approximately 5:34 PM with a fully staffed Rescue 47, to assist with vehicle extrication efforts.