A 33-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he lost control while maneuvering around slower traffic on Interstate 215 in Riverside and was hit by a tractor-trailer, authorities said Thursday.
Jose Lucero of Riverside was fatally injured at 3 p.m. Wednesday on southbound I-215, near Center Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Javier Navarro said Lucero was riding his Harley-Davidson at an unconfirmed speed on the crowded four-lane corridor, “splitting lanes within carpool and No. 1 lanes when he came upon stopped traffic.”
“The rider veered to the right, lost control and went down within the No. 1 lane,” Navarro said.
He said Lucero ended up rolling into the “path of a semi traveling in the No. 3 lane and was struck.”
Traffic came to a virtual standstill. A trauma surgeon stuck in the ensuing jam rushed to the victim’s aid and attempted resuscitative measures until Riverside County Fire Department paramedics reached the location, according to reports from the scene. He was pronounced dead minutes later.
The trucker was questioned but not formally detained for anything.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact the Riverside CHP office at 951-324-7210.