TUMWATER, Wash. — A motorcyclist was struck and killed by a semi-truck on Interstate 5 Friday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The collision happened just before 10:30 a.m. on northbound I-5 at Maytown Road, south of Tumwater, according to WSP Trooper Ryan Burke.
While troopers initially investigated it as a possible hit-and-run involving a second semi-truck, based on witnesses, but troopers later determined there was only one semi-truck involved.
Burke said the semi was in the far right lane of I-5 when the motorcyclist entered the freeway crossing over the gore-point from the far side of the ramp. Either oil on the road or the bank of of the ramp caused the rider to lose control and strike the right rear of the semi, said Burke.
The same truck then struck the rider. The semi-driver stayed at the scene during the investigation.
The motorcyclist, a 29-year-old man from Olympia, died at the scene. His next of kin has been notified.
Traffic on northbound I-5 remained congested in that area due to the ongoing investigation for hours. All lanes of northbound I-5 reopened to traffic around 3 p.m. following the incident.
If you have any information about the collision, you're asked to contact WSP.
