Los Angeles, CA : Motorcyclist killed in crash near Santa Monica Boulevard on Wednesday morning, November 23, 2016

A motorcyclist was killed Wednesday morning after possibly swerving around a ladder and crashing into a pickup truck on the southbound 405 Freeway near Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles.

A green ladder was reportedly blocking the carpool and No. 1 lanes at 6:43 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol website. The crash and subsequent investigation prompted authorities to declare a SigAlert, snarling traffic on the freeway.

The SigAlert was requested at 7:09 a.m. for the No. 1 and No. 2 lanes and lasted for two hours, according to the CHP.

CHP Officer Patrick Stafford said the motorcyclist was “traveling at a high rate of speed.”

The agency received calls about a ladder in the roadway, he said.

“We do not know if the motorcyclist swerved around the ladder, or another vehicle swerved into him, based off preliminary information,” Stafford said.

Earlier, CHP Officer Peter Nicholson said a highway patrol officer reported the ladder, and “not two minutes later a crash came out with a motorcyclist striking that ladder, which resulted in fatal injuries to the rider.”

Stafford could not confirm the deceased motorcyclist’s age but said he was from Los Angeles.

Source :
Ladder on 405 freeway leads to fatal motorcycle crash