Fatal Motorcycle Crash On 91 Freeway Stalls Traffic

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday when he went down on the Riverside (91) Freeway and was run over by a commuter bus.

The fatality occurred about 7:40 a.m. on the westbound 91, just east of Van Buren Boulevard, on the west end of Riverside, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Sgt. Steven Rusk told City News Service that the rider, whose identity was not immediately released, was traveling about 65 mph and "splitting traffic," or riding on the white lines between the HOV and No. 1 lanes.

"It appears his handle bar might have clipped the back of a Jeep Latitude," Rusk said. "It caused him to lose control and go down in the HOV lane."

The sergeant said an RTA commuter bus driver was unable to stop in time and drove over the victim.

Riverside Fire Department paramedics reached the location within a few minutes and pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene.

Only the bus driver was aboard the bus, and he wasn't injured, nor were the occupants of the Jeep, according to Rusk.

The westbound 91 was partially shut down for over two hours while a preliminary investigation was conducted and the wreckage was cleared.

"Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be factors in this crash," Rusk said.

Anyone with information about the accident was asked to contact the CHP Riverside office at 951-637-8000.