Motorcyclist dies after wreck in Wise County police chase

A Montague County man died Monday at a Fort Worth hospital after his motorcycle wrecked Sunday afternoon during a police chase in northwest Wise County, officials said.

Randle Skinner, 27, of Bowie died Monday afternoon at Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office.

The chase began around 4:30 p.m. Sunday about eight miles east of Chico, said Sgt. Shawn Younger of the Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol office in Decatur. (An earlier star-telegram.com report incorrectly stated that the chase began in Chico.)

A DPS trooper who was eastbound on Farm Road 1810 saw a red "high performance" Suzuki motorcycle approaching in the opposite direction, Younger said Tuesday.

The rider, who was later identified as Skinner, was checked at 75 mph in a 60 mph zone, Younger said. The trooper activated his lights and turned to pursue the motorcycle, Younger said.

"Once he did that the motorcycle went up to 100-130 mph back to Chico," Younger said. "But the motorcycle was out of sight most of the chase."

Troopers believe Skinner lost control of the motorcycle about a half mile east of the Chico city limits, Younger said.

"He laid it down and it hit a telephone pole," Younger said. "It was a very severe impact.

"The motorcycle basically disintegrated and the pole was cut in half. The motorcycle was cut in half."

Skinner, who was wearing a helmet, was flown by helicopter ambulance to Harris, Younger said. He was pronounced dead at 1:13 p.m. Monday, the medical examiner reported.

"We have no clue why he ran," Younger said. "We probably won't ever know."