Motorcyclist was killed Monday on Interstate 70

A motorcyclist was killed Monday on Interstate 70 when he lost control of his bike and fell under the rear wheels of a tractor-trailer.

The crash happened at about 11:20 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the highway between Airport and Tower roads, said Lt. Jeff Turner, an Aurora Police Department spokesman.

The highway was closed until about 5 p.m. for the investigation.

The victim was riding side-by-side with another motorcyclist, his brother-in-law, when the bikes sped up to pass a truck in a construction zone that narrowed from two lanes to one, Turner said.

The bikes' handlebars touched, causing one driver to lose control. His motorcycle hit a construction-zone marker, a barrel, then another barrel, Turner said. The driver of the bike was ejected from the motorcycle and wound up under the rear wheels of the tractor-trailer.

Both motorcyclists are from Illinois.

An investigation is ongoing, but police believe the motorcycles were going too fast in the construction zone, leading to the fatal crash.

"Initial information is of the deceased rider being at fault," Turner said.

Neither of the motorcyclists was wearing a helmet, although both men had helmets strapped onto their bikes.

"It probably would not have a made a difference" if the victim had been wearing a helmet in this case, Turner said.

The highway remained closed Monday afternoon. Police were hoping to have it reopened by the evening rush hour.

The victim was not identified.

There were no other injuries.