Dirt bike rider allegedly fleeing police dies after Canal Boulevard crash, authorities say

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A man allegedly fleeing police on an off-road motorcycle died Monday (April 6) after running a red light and crashing into a pickup truck turning at a Canal Boulevard intersection, the Louisiana State Police said.

The agency identified the man as 24-year-old Landon Smith of Winnfield, La.

According to State Police, Smith was fleeing from an attempted traffic stop and was trying to evade troopers and New Orleans Police Department officers when the fatal crash occurred.

Dashcam video provided to Fox 8 by a viewer showed the dirt bike driver ran a red light and collided with a large black truck that was turning left shortly after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and City Park Avenue.

Smith -- wearing jeans, a black “Bike Life” hoodie and no motorcycle helmet -- was ejected and thrown high into the air, landing in the street. Authorities said he was rushed to a hospital, where he died. The driver of the SUV was not injured, troopers said.

State police said an NOPD officer in a fully marked unit attempted to stop Smith on Canal Street in the French Quarter, after Smith allegedly was driving recklessly on his 2021 Yamaha dirt bike. They said Smith refused to stop and fled the scene, with the NOPD officer losing sight of him.

Members of the LSP’s Troop NOLA were notified of the incident by radio, and soon saw Smith “traveling at a high rate of speed on Orleans Avenue while driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic,” the agency said. The troopers also attempted to stop Smith, but said he again refused to stop and sped away. The LSP said troopers lost sight of Smith before he reached City Park Avenue.

Troopers then said “shortly thereafter” they came upon the crash scene involving Smith and the 2025 Ford F-150 at City Park Avenue and Canal Boulevard. Troopers and members of the Louisiana National Guard attempted to render aid at the scene. They said Smith was taken for treatment of “severe injuries,” but that he died at the hospital.

Anyone with information, or with pictures or video of the incident, is asked to contact Louisiana State Police at (800) 434-8007.

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