Santa Cruz, CA : Motorcyclist dies in accident on Highway 1 on May 13th 2014

A motorcyclist died in a crash on Highway 1 during rush-hour Tuesday after he slammed into the back of a Comcast pickup that had slowed for traffic, authorities said.

The man was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle on southbound Highway 1 just before the Morrissey Boulevard exit about 4 p.m. when the crash happened, said California Highway Patrol officer Brad Sadek.

The rider likely didn't see the pickup slow down, and he struck it, Sadek said. The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Sadek said.

The pickup driver was not injured.

The rider's age and name were not released Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities closed all but one of the southbound lanes of Highway 1 as they investigated the wreck. A line of vehicles wrapped past the Fishhook, and surface streets on both sides of Highway 1 were clogged because of the crash.

"It's gridlocked everywhere," said Marc DesJardins, a Soquel resident and an editor at the Sentinel. "Everyone's fleeing Highway 1 because it's closed."

Santa Cruz streets such as Seabright, Soquel and Goss avenues had heavy traffic, drivers said.

The highway was reopened about 5:30 p.m.

Source :
Motorcyclist dies in Highway 1 crash in Santa Cruz