A MOTORCYCLIST was arrested Wednesday for murder for his role in a September 2021 crash in Huntington Beach in which his passenger was killed (Shutterstock).

A 22-year old Huntington Beach man was arrested for murder Wednesday for his role in the death of a passenger on his motorcycle.

According to Jennifer Carey, public affairs manager of the HBPD, John Murray III, is charged with the killing of Meghan Wautlet, 22, of Huntington Beach in a traffic collision on Sept. 11, 2021.

In that incident, Murray’s motorcycle collided with a sport utility vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway, south of Warner Avenue after 8:15 p.m. The passenger – Wautlet – was found dead at the scene by police and Murray was found in the roadway with “significant injuries” and taken to a local hospital.

HBPD investigators concluded that Murray was “recklessly operating his motorcycle,” driving “at a high rate of speed.” Before the crash, Murray was speeding and “performing dangerous stunts which contributed to the collision,” according to Carey.

Police also learned that before the crash, Murray had been cited or arrested five times on traffic-related charges including speeding and reckless driving. He was also involved in “at least” three at-fault collisions in which he was considered to be unsafely driving his motorcycle.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or has additional relevant information is asked to contact HBPD Traffic Investigator Vishal Rattanchandani at (714) 536-5231 or VRattanchandani@hbpd.org.