SANTA CLARA — A 23-year-old San Jose man died early Tuesday when he crashed his motorcycle into a big rig on Highway 101 near Great America, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The fatal collision was reported about 2:40 a.m. in the northbound lanes past Great America Parkway when the victim was riding his Honda CBR “at high speeds” and tried to pass a Peterbilt tractor-trailer traveling in the far-right lane. But he hit the back of the trailer, causing his bike to flip and throw him off, the CHP said.
Several vehicles could not avoid the man lying in the roadway and “inadvertently collided with him,” the CHP said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his identity was withheld until his relatives are contacted.
All of the other motorists involved in the incident pulled over and cooperated with investigators. It was not immediately clear whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
The two right lanes of northbound Highway 101 were closed for about two-and-a-half hours while the CHP examined the site.
Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.
