Motorcyclist killed, landed on car at 101 and I-80

A motorcyclist died early Tuesday after crashing into the wall of the connector ramp from Highway 101 to Interstate 80 in San Francisco and landing on another vehicle, causing major traffic backups for the morning commute, said the California Highway Patrol.

The fatal crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. and prompted a closure of the ramps, said CHP Officer Mark Andrews. Morning commutes were impacted, with all lanes blocked at southbound Highway 101 to eastbound I-80 for more than four hours, and westbound I-80 to southbound Highway 101 also blocked.

As of 9 a.m., all lanes were reopened, though officials reported residual delays on the southbound 101 ramp to I-80 east.

Later Tuesday morning, the CHP issued a more detailed description of the chain of events.

At about 3:30 a.m., authorities said, the driver of a Nissan sedan had crashed their vehicle on the elevated connector ramp from southbound Highway 101 to eastbound I-80 and was blocking two lanes of traffic.

The motorcyclist, who was driving toward the Nissan, lost control while trying to avoid it, crashed into the wall and landed on a Honda sedan traveling on the ramp below, connecting I-80 west to Highway 101 south, the CHP said on Facebook.

The driver of the Honda stopped their vehicle, blocking all lanes, as the motorcyclist fell off the car onto the roadway. An approaching Subaru Forester was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the Honda, CHP said.

The motorcyclist, who was believed to have been struck by at least one and possibly more vehicles after landing on the road, died from his injuries at the scene, officials said.

The drivers of the Nissan and Subaru were both arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, CHP said.

The driver of the car on which the motorcylist fell reported minor pain from injuries, said Andrews.