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Teen killed in electric motorcycle crash with van

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria
BBC The back of a black police jacket with 'Police' written in white on a blue background. A strip of chequered blue and white squares runs across the top of the jacket.BBC
McKenzie Ratcliffe was riding an electric motorcycle when he crashed into a van

A teenager riding an electric motorcycle has died in a crash with a van.

McKenzie Ratcliffe, 18, from North Shields, was riding on Waterville Road, near Meadow Well, on Wednesday, when he hit a Mercedes Sprinter van, Northumbria Police said.

He was pronounced dead a short time later and the driver of the van, a man in his 60s, remained at the scene.

Sgt Craig Bartle said the force was carrying out an investigation and its thoughts were with McKenzie's family and friends.

He said: "I would ask anyone with information which could assist us to get in touch.

"We are particularly keen to hear from those with dashcam footage of the moments leading up to the collision between the bike and the van."

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