3 killed in accidents involving motorcycles and trucks in Los Angeles California

Separate crashes about the same time involving motorcycles and trucks on two Los Angeles-area freeways left three people dead Tuesday.

The first crash occurred about 10:45 a.m. on the westbound Pomona (60) Freeway at Barford Avenue in Hacienda Heights. Motorcyclist Johannes Blankenhorn, 37, of Tujunga rear-ended a car, was thrown from the motorcycle he was riding and was then run over by a big rig, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics were unable to revive Blankenhorn and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the CHP.
The second crash occurred about 11:15 a.m. on the transition from the northbound Long Beach (710) Freeway to the westbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway in the Alhambra area, the CHP reported.

A man and a woman -- both in their 20s -- were killed when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a big rig, the CHP reported. Both died at the scene.

A CHP officer said the driver of the big rig is being sought as a hit- and-run driver, but added that sometimes a big rig driver can't see motorcyclists.

The big rig was a gray tractor trailer combination box truck, the officer said.The motorcycle driver lost control when he failed to negotiate the curve while trying to pass the big rig. Both the motorcycle driver and rider fell in the direct path of the big rig wheels and died at the scene.