Huntington Beach, CA - 33-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed After Crashing Into SUV at Newland Street and Talbert Avenue

Huntington Beach, CA (October 21, 2026) - Huntington Beach police said a 33-year-old Westminster man died after the motorcycle he was riding hit the back of an SUV at Newland Street and Talbert Avenue at about 5:30 a.m. on October 21.

Police said the man was riding a red Kawasaki motorcycle southbound on Newland Street, north of Talbert Avenue, when he struck the rear of a white Volkswagen Tiguan. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified him as Brett Wayne Goucher.

The driver of the SUV stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers. Police said impairment does not appear to be a factor for that driver. The Huntington Beach Police Department is investigating, and the cause has not been announced.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

What to Do After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Huntington Beach, CA

The California Office of Traffic Safety reports 583 motorcyclists were killed in the state in 2023, nearly 19% more than in 2019. Each of those losses leaves a family with the same urgent questions.

1. Secure the report and the motorcycle. Ask Huntington Beach police for the report and the investigator's contact. Ask that the motorcycle, helmet and gear not be released, repaired or discarded.
2. Save the evidence that disappears first. Business and traffic camera footage is often overwritten within days, so identify cameras near the intersection. Photograph the road surface and lines of sight. Ask that any dash camera video or event data from the SUV be preserved.
3. Route the insurer calls. Send them to one person or to an attorney, and give no recorded statement. The SUV driver's liability policy and the rider's own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may both matter. Funeral expenses can be claimed alongside the wrongful death claim.
4. Understand who can file. Close family members may bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60.
5. Mark the deadline. The two-year filing deadline under section 335.1 falls on October 21, 2028. Police say the rider struck the back of the SUV, so fault will be a central question. California's pure comparative fault rule allows recovery even when a rider shares some responsibility, reduced by that share.

Contact Our Southern California Personal Injury Attorneys

The Law Offices of Christian Contreras was founded by attorney Christian Contreras. The firm represents injured people and grieving families across Southern California. Our Orange County personal injury lawyers have secured a $5 million wrongful death settlement. They take on the insurers so a family does not have to. We look closely at how the crash happened before anyone decides who was at fault.

What Orange County families get with Contreras Law after a fatal motorcycle crash:

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
• Takes cases to trial with 7+ jury trials each year
• Bilingual representation in English and Spanish
• Featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and Telemundo
• Perfect 5.0 Star Client Rating

Our office is at 360 E 2nd St, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Call 866-836-6588 or reach us through our contact page.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.