Motorcyclist killed in Fayetteville crash performed wheelie at 92 mph in 35-mph zone, police say

A man is dead after a motorcycle crash Wednesday afternoon in Fayetteville.

2025-10-30

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, officers responded to a crash around 5:51 p.m. on Gillespie Street at Southern Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a motorcycle and an SUV involved in a crash.

Police said the preliminary investigation determined a 2014 Yamaha motorcycle, operated by Trenton Wayne Thompson, 22, was driving down Gillespie Street when an SUV operated by 43-year-old Hector Elias Burgos turned left onto Southern Avenue and collided with Thompson.

The force of the crash then spun Elias-Burgos’ vehicle into another SUV, driven by Larry Wayne Barber, 65.

Thompson was taken to a local hospital, where he later died. Elias-Burgos and a passenger in his vehicle. Barber was unharmed.

Fayetteville police said Thompson performed a wheelie at 92 mph in a 35-mph zone about 300 feet from the crash location.

In 2025, the city of Fayetteville has investigated eight fatal motorcycle crashes. Seven of the eight have been the result of excessive speed of the motorcycle, police said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.