- A 37-year-old man known as “T.I.” was killed Tuesday night after his dirt bike collided with an SUV on Liberty Heights Avenue in Baltimore.
- His nephew says he was riding through the neighborhood giving kids rides just minutes before the fatal crash.
- The SUV driver stayed at the scene and will not face charges; investigators are still determining if speed was a factor.
- Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the incident tragic and vowed further enforcement and legislative action on dirt bike riding.
BALTIMORE, Maryland — Just minutes before the crash that killed him, a 37-year-old Baltimore man was riding through his neighborhood giving kids joy rides on his dirt bike.
By 8:49 p.m. Tuesday, he was gone.
City police responded to the 3000 block of Liberty Heights Avenue after reports of a collision between a dirt bike and an SUV. The man, known throughout his community as “T.I.,” was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Father, a Mentor, a Family’s Foundation
His nephew spoke to reporters Wednesday morning, still processing the loss.
“He was a father of one, he loved his daughter, nieces and nephews — we all loved him,” the nephew said. “He was the glue to the family, held us all together and showed us the real definition of family.”
Beyond family, T.I. drove trucks for a living and spent time mentoring young people in the community.
“Outside of that, he worked with kids doing mentoring,” his nephew said.
Dirt biking was how he unwound — a passion, not a recklessness.
“Before you go to judge anybody, take a look at them, take a look at their background,” the nephew said. “Everybody got a story, everybody got a right to freedom. To me and him and to the guys around me, our place to feel free is riding bikes.”
Community Reacts With Grief on Both Sides
Nearby business owner Mohammed Rauf, who operates Apex Motors on Liberty Heights Avenue, said he learned about the crash Wednesday morning.
“It’s very sad,” Rauf said. “We see a lot of dirt bikes — it’s very unsafe. The lights in this area are not very good either, so at nighttime, it’s very hard to see.”
Community member Michelle Epps said her heart goes out to both families involved.
“The driver had no time to react. You got a dirt bike flying down the street,” Epps said. “But my heart goes out to both families. The driver is also a victim. It’s a tragedy on both sides.”
BPD confirmed the SUV driver remained at the scene. He will not face charges. Investigators have not yet determined whether speed played a role.
Mayor Calls It Tragic, Promises Action
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the crash Wednesday morning, calling it a painful reminder of an issue the city has struggled with for decades.
“This is why we continue to say driving dirt bikes in that manner is extremely dangerous,” Scott said. “This issue has been talked about in Baltimore since I was in elementary school.”
Scott said the Baltimore Police Department will continue using its aviation unit and other tools to monitor dirt bike activity on city streets. He added that the city is exploring legislative solutions with state partners.
“We have great organizations doing great work, like B-360, to try to take that culture and apply it in other ways,” he said.
B-360 Urges the City to Come Together
Community organization B-360, which works to redirect dirt bike culture into safe programming, released a statement offering condolences and a call to action.
“This could have been anyone’s brother, uncle, cousin or father,” the organization said. “One life lost is one too many. Safety is a shared responsibility, and we all play a role in creating a safer Baltimore for riders, drivers, pedestrians and families alike.”
B-360’s summer camp begins June 24. The organization said it will have events and youth programs running throughout the summer.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Baltimore police at 410-396-2606.
Did you know T.I. or have you witnessed the growing tension between dirt bike culture and road safety in Baltimore? Share your thoughts in the comments — this community deserves to be heard.
