Motorcyclist killed in collision at busy Liverpool junction; car driver arrested on suspicion of careless driving

A man has died following a serious crash in Liverpool’s Vauxhall area on Wednesday night, prompting a massive emergency response and the deployment of an air ambulance which landed at a nearby Costco car park.

The incident occurred at around 7pm on May 28 at the junction of Vandries Street and Waterloo Road. Merseyside Police said a Volkswagen ID3 collided with an AJS Highway Star motorbike. Despite the swift arrival of emergency services, including police, paramedics, fire crews and the North West Air Ambulance, the 38-year-old motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, a Liverpool resident, has not yet been named, but police confirmed his family has been informed. Specially trained family liaison officers are providing them with support.

The driver of the car, a 24-year-old man also from Liverpool, remained at the scene following the crash. After initial enquiries, he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. Police say he remains in custody and will be questioned by detectives on Thursday.

A major cordon was put in place around the crash site, stretching across Vandries Street and Waterloo Road, while several nearby roads including Vulcan Street and Porter Street were closed to traffic. All routes have since been reopened, according to Merseyside Police.

Photos captured shortly after the incident show multiple fire engines, police vehicles, and paramedics working around the scene, which was partially obscured by emergency response tape. The air ambulance, which landed in the Costco car park nearby, departed around 7:50pm after medical personnel had provided assistance.

Witnesses described the moment of the crash with chilling clarity. One woman who was walking to her car nearby told the Liverpool Echo: “I just heard a bang and then scraping. It was awful.”

The fatal crash has rocked the Vauxhall community, and tributes are expected to follow as residents absorb the tragic news. Traffic was heavily disrupted in the area during the response, with congestion stretching along the main roads as emergency services worked through the evening.

In a statement issued later that night, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that emergency services were called to Vandries Street at around 7pm to reports of a serious road traffic collision involving a motorbike and a car. Sadly, the motorcyclist died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.”

An investigation into the full circumstances of the crash is ongoing, and Merseyside Police are appealing for witnesses, especially those with dashcam footage of the area around the time of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit added: “We are urging anyone who witnessed this tragic incident, or who was driving in the area and has any CCTV or dashcam footage, to please come forward. Every piece of information could be vital in helping us understand exactly what happened.”

The shocking nature of the crash, compounded by the presence of the air ambulance at a busy retail park, has intensified public concern about road safety in the area. As investigations continue, the police presence in Vauxhall remains significant, and officers are expected to conduct house-to-house enquiries and CCTV reviews.

This incident marks another reminder of the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions and the importance of continued efforts to ensure driver awareness and public safety on Liverpool’s roads.