Woman riding motorcycle dead after crash with big rig on I-215 in Riverside
A woman riding a motorcycle was killed during a crash involving a big rig on the 215 Freeway in Riverside on Thursday.
It happened a little before 8 p.m. on southbound lanes near Van Buren Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. They say that the woman, identified as 61-year-old Riverside woman Stephanie Varieur, was riding a three-wheel Can-Am Spyder motorcycle when she began to turn right and collided with the trailer of a semi truck.
"The Spyder was caught by the wheels of the truck," police said. "The motorcycle was flipped over, and the rider was thrown into lanes."
After the crash, the big rig driver pulled off the road onto the right shoulder while dragging the bike with it.
Police say that other drivers spotted Varieur lying in the No. 2 lane and called to report that a pedestrian had been struck on the freeway. A pickup truck driver stopped to block the lane and protect her from being hit by other cars.
Paramedics with the Riverside Fire Department pronounced Varieur dead at the scene.
Three of the four southbound lanes were closed for several hours while the investigation continued.
Anyone who knows more is urged to contact CHP officers at (951) 324-7210.
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