BAR ARGUMENT LEADS TO CHASE, DEATH.

Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer

A late-night argument outside a Northridge bar escalated into a chase that ended when a van hit two motorcycles, which burst into flames, leaving one rider dead and another injured, police said Saturday.

The driver of the van left the scene of the crash shortly after midnight, but turned himself in to police later Saturday morning, authorities said.

He was held for questioning throughout the day at the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire Division, police said.

Police described those involved in the dispute as ``combatants'' who started arguing at about 12:10 a.m. Saturday outside the ClassRoom bar near the corner of Tampa Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard and continued the altercation while driving.

The driver of the van was driving aggressively and crashed with two pickup trucks as well as the two motorcycles, officials said.

Both the motorcycles caught fire near the intersection of Roscoe and Reseda boulevards, and one victim, identified as Dino Murphone, 49, was declared dead about 20 minutes after the crash, police said.

Detectives said there were numerous witnesses.

A relative said Murphone had an adult daughter and a wife who has been ill and was hospitalized recently.

The rider of the other motorcycle, who was not identified, was hospitalized with moderate injuries and was listed in stable condition, police said.

No weapons were recovered, and the cause of the dispute was still under investigation late Saturday, said LAPD Detective John Fleming.